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. .  olume  35   JULY,  1932    Number  9 

Return  Postage  Guaranteed—Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


Ships  Don  t  Come  In 


They  are  Brought  In 

THE  surest  way  for  you  to  have  your  ship  come  in  is  to  help  bring  it  in  by  work- 
ing hard  and  intelligently  saving  a  portion  of  all  you  earn.     In  other  words — 
Save  For  a  Sunny  Day  the  First  Security  Way.      Deposit  a  definite  portion  of 
each  pay  check  in  the  Savings  Department  of  one  of  the  following  banks: 


■w 


FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK 
Salt    Lake    City 

FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK 
Ogden 


THATCHER  BROS.  BANKING  CO. 
Logan 

FIRST  SECURITY  TRUST  CO. 
Salt  Lake  City 


FIRST  SAVINGS  BANK 

Ogden 

ANDERSON  BROS.  BANK 

Idaho  Falls,  Idaho 


FIRST  SECURITY  BANKS  AT: 

Boise,  Pocatello,  Nampa,  Emmett,  Payette,  Mountain  Home,  Gooding,  Rupert,  Jerome, 
Shoshone,  Hailey,  Blackfoot,  Ashton,  Montpelier,  Preston,  Idaho;  Provo,  Bingham, 
Magna,  Richmond,  Utah;  Rock  Springs  and  South  Superior,  Wyo. 


' 


Largest  Intermountain  Banking  Organization 


g$ 


.  p 


fThe  /jmprove/neirt 


Vol.  35,  No.  9 


E  R  A" 


JULY,  1932 


Organ  of  the  Priesthood  Quorums,  the  Mutual  Improvement  Associations 

and  the  Department  of  Education 


FORECAST 

/~pHE  manner  in  which  the  New 
Testament  has  influenced  the 
civilizations  of  the  world  and  espe- 
cially that  civilization  which  is 
America  is  discussed  in  an  un- 
usually interesting  manner  by  Dr. 
E.  G.  Peterson,  president  of  the 
Utah  State  Agricultural  College, 
in  the  August  issue  of  the  Im- 
provement Era. 

i      i       i 

'"PHE  Heart  of  Utah"  as  seen  by 
a  Chicago  woman  during  the 
summer  of  1931  will  have  special 
interest  for  those  who  look  upon 
Salt  Lake  City  as  being  "The 
Place"  in  which  Mormondom  cen- 
ters. The  article  will  be  well  il- 
lustrated with  scenes  of  the  city. 


rpiCTION  is  to  find  more  space 
than  usual  in  the  August  is- 
sue of  the  Improvement  Era. 
Among  the  stories  will  be  "a  west- 
ern" written  by  Glynn  Bennion, 
the  cattleman-story-teller  whose 
historical  sketches  of  the  Old  West 
have  long  ago  introduced  him  to 
the  public. 

i      i      i 

TN  addition  there  will  be  an  ar- 
■*■  tide  about  Elder  Stephen  L. 
Richards  written  by  President 
Bryant  S.  Hinckley,  and  the  regu- 
lar poetry  and  art. 

i      i      i 

The  Cover  This  Month 

HpHE  photograph  on  the  cover 
*  this  month  was  taken  especial- 
ly for  the  Improvement  Era  of  the 
Mormon  Battalion  Monument  on 
the  State  Capitol  Grounds  by  Earl 
Lyman,  of  the  Utah  Photo  Mate- 
rials Company.  See  the  descrip- 
tion by  President  B.  H.  Roberts 
on  page  521. 


For  Every  Member  of  the  Family 
EDITORIALS 

Badge  of  Courage  ___ H.  R.  Merrill  514 

Day  by  Day  Elsie  T.  Brandley  515 

The  Mormon  Battalion  Monument B.  H.  Roberts  515 

ARTICLES 

George  Washington  In  New  York  City Harold  W.  Bentley  517 

Mormon  Battalion  and  Monument  B.  H.  Roberts  521 

Greatness  in  Men — James  E.  Talmage Bryant  S.  Hinckley  522 

Broadcastings  from  the  M.  I.  A.  Annual  Conference  529 

Getting  the  Most  Out  of  Camping Elva  Moss  Wesset  534 

A  Prayer  for  this  Camp    John  T.  Caine  536 

The  Star  Spangled  Banner  Bertha  L.  Stevenson  541 

Navajo  and  Pioneer  Friends Joseph  B.  Harris  543 

The  Peace  Pipe  and  the  Book  of  Mormon Peart  Spencer  545 

The  Magic  Highway  to  the  Silent  City Edna  I.  Asmus  546 

A  Rainy  Day  in  Shakespeare's  Town George  F.  Paul  548 

FICTION 

Nothing  Ventured,  Nothing  Gained Irene  Dunlap  526 

The  Scar  Maxa  Million  531 

The  Love  Blossom  . Laura  Reid  Montgomery  532 

This  Bear  Business  E.  W.  Taylor  537 


POETRY 


A  Sea  and  a  City  

The  Echo  Canyon  War  _ 

Western  Echoes  

Conquest  


Prairie  Stars  

Night  on  Timpanogos  . 
New  York  Churchyard 

Longing   . 

Prairie  Yearning  

Reincarnated   

Tribute  


Beatrice  K.  Ekman  516 

Ruth  Max  Fox  530 

-John  Sherman  Walker  544 

..John  Sherman  Walker  544 

Pearl  Riggs  Crouch  559 

...Andrew  M.  Anderson  559 

John  G.  Whidding  559 

Clara  Peterson  559 


DEPARTMENTS 


Pearl  Riggs  Crouch  559 

Ardyth   Kennelly  559 

Merling  D.  Clyde  559 


Rock  Garden  Contests 
Book  Reviews  __.   


539 

555 

Church  Music  Committee  560 

Aaronic  Priesthood   561 

Books  for  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood  Workers  562 

Mutual  Messages  563 

Let's  Talk  It  Over  576 


Melvin  J.  Ballard,  Business  Mgr. 
Clarissa  A.  Beesley,  Asso.  Bus.  Mgr, 
O.  B.  Peterson,  Ass't  Bus.  Mgr. 
George  Q.  Morris, 
Rachel  Grant  Taylor, 

Chairmen  Era  and  Publicity 


Published  monthly  bv  the 
GENERAL  BOARDS  OF  THE  MUTUAL  IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATIONS 

EXECUTIVE  AND   EDITORIAL  OFFICES:  Entered   at   the   Post   Office,   Salt 

406  CHURCH  OFFICE  BLDG.,  SALT  LAKE  CITY.  UT.       Lake    city,    Utah,    as     second-class 

Copyright,  1932,  by  the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Improvement 

Association    Corporation    of    the    Church    ctf   Jesus   Christ 

of  Latter-day  Saints.     All  rights  reserved. 

Subscription  price,  $2.no  a  year,  in  advance; 

20c  a  Single  Copy. 


matter.  Acceptance  for  mailing  at 
special  rate  of  postage  provided  for 
in  section  1103,  Act  of  October, 
1917.  authorized  July  2,  1918. 


Harrison  R.  Merrill 
Managing  Editor 


Elsie  Talmage  Brandley 
Associate  Editor 


Heber  J.  Grant,  Editor 


The  Badge  of  Courage 


TI  7  HEN  Brigham  Young  and  his  band  of  one 
VV  hundred  forty  odd  followers  arrived  in 
Salt  Lake  Valley,  July  24,  1847,  they  found  a 
sage-green  vista,  rimmed  by  mountains,  and 
edged  on  the  northwest  by  a  shimmering  body  of 
water  about  which  they  knew  but  little.  President 
Young,  however,  lost  no  time  in  exploration  or 
in  wondering  whether  a  body 
of  people  could  live  in  such  a 
place.     He  knew  they  could. 

The  Saints,  under  the  lead- 
er's direction,  had  scarcely 
broken  ground  before  explorers 
were  sent  out  to  find  suitable 
locations  for  immigrants  who 
were  to  follow.  Though  Presi- 
dent Young  must  secretly  have 
had  many  misgivings  he  suc- 
ceeded in  presenting  a  bold 
front  to  his  friends  and  foes 
alike. 

While  yet  the  first  city  was 
merely  a  few  cabins  by  a  creek, 
he  spread  the  saints  as  they 
arrived  to  various  parts  of 
Utah,  Arizona,  Nevada,  and 
Idaho.  He  knew  of  the  hard- 
ships confronting  them;  he 
knew  that  some  might  fail; 
Ihe  knew  that  there  would  be 
whiners  and  grunters  among 
them;  but  he  sent  them  just 
the  same. 

This  was  a  wild  and  savage 
land.  Its  teeth  were  bared.  It  snarled  at  those  who 
attempted  to  break  its  long  slumber.  The  sun  seemed 
savage,  too,  those  July  days — as  savage  as  the  follow- 
ing winter  proved  to  be.  Some  men  stood  appalled, 
but  not  Brigham  Young!  Sustained  by  an  inner 
faith  in  himself,  in  his  people,  and  in  the  cause  for 
which  he  stood,  he  seemed  to  be  as  solid  as  the  sur- 
rounding hills. 

Later  an  army  came,  but  they  found  in  the  desert 
a  calm,  self-contained  leader  without  organized 
armies;  without  funds;  with  no  intention  of  fighting, 
but — with  no  intention  of  knuckling  or  giving  an 
inch. 

"You  must  not  attempt  to  come  into  the  valley 
this  fall,  (1858),"  said  he.  And  when  with  his 
consent  they  did  come  the  following  year,  they  found 
a  deserted  city  with  only  men  enough  left  to  apply 
the  torch  in  case  the  agreement  he  had  forced  upon 
the  army  was  not  carried  out  to  the  very  letter. 


Brigham  Young  in  his  prime 


There  you  have  Brigham  Young — a  builder — a 
commander — but  a  man  with  visions — dreams — 
which  he  solidified  into  realities!  He  spoke  and  an 
inland  empire  grew  up  out  of  the  savage  soil — a 
startling,  miraculous  thing.  It  was  no  mushroom 
growth  springing  up  and  withering  in  a  day.  It  was 
a  growth  springing  out  of  brave  hearts  and  most 

cherished  ideals.  Fertilized  and 
strengthened  by  the  blood  of 
true  martyrs  who  lie  at  its  roots, 
it  has  in  it  the  fibre  that  will  last 
through  the  ages. 

Winds  of  adversity  are  now 
blowing  upon  that  inland  em- 
pire. It,  like  the  desert  plants 
surrounding  it,  draws  in  its 
foliage,  shows  its  spines,  but  it 
will  not  falter.  It  may  not  lay 
on  large  rings  of  growth,  but  it 
will  sink  its  roots  deeper  and  be 
better  prepared  for  future  storms 
which  are  certain  to  come. 

The  same  God  who  guided 
Brigham  Young  is  guiding  his 
successors.  The  same  courage 
which  possessed  the  heart  of  the 
Empire  Builder  strengthens  the 
hands  of  those  who  have  come 
after  him,  for  they  are  inspired 
by  the  spirit  of  truth  and  up- 
held by  the  hopes,  the  ideals,  the 
faith  of  the  same  great  people 
and  their  sons  and  daughters 
who  gave  their  lives  to  a  cause. 
A  great  people  cannot  be  defeated,  for  they  will 
not  be  defeated.  The  badge  of  courage  worn  by 
Brigham  Young  has  been  passed  on  to  this  entire 
people  not  only  in  Utah  or  America,  but  throughout 
the  world.  Any  person  who  gives  his  life  and  his 
fortune  to  a  cause  must  possess  the  badge  of  courage. 
And  so,  President  Brigham  Young,  courageous 
leader,  undaunted  builder,  capable  executive,  the  em- 
pire you  planted  will  continue  to  grow;  the  badge 
of  courage  worn  by  you  has  passed  to  those  who  have 
followed  you.  As  you  dared  to  build  your  empire 
of  cities  and  towns,  they  will  dare  to  build  a  social- 
spiritual  empire  the  white  form  of  which  is  already 
rising  from  this  soil!  If  the  hope  of  the  world  is 
in  this  people,  then  these  times  are  a  challenge  to  us 
all,  and  out  of  them  will  come  a  new  order  of  things 
fashioned  still  more  nearly  after  the  Christian  pattern. 
But  changes  require  courage.  It  is  a  time  when  a 
man  should  say  "not  you  or  they  should,  but  I  will 
put  on  the  badge  of  courage." — H.  R.  M. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


515 


Day  by  Day 


f  I  'HERE  is  no  way  of  knowing  how  many  times 
■J-  a  year  the  term  "day  by  day"  is  used  in  speech. 
Songs,  poems  and  prayers  include  it;  new  cults  use 
it,  with  the  addition  "in  every  way;"  it  is  well  a- 
mong  the  first  when  trite  expressions  are  listed.  Sim- 
ple, stereotyped,  ordinary  as  it  is,  the  time  is  here  to 
think  about  its  meaning,  and  to  think  deeply,  analy- 
tically, philosophically.  The  woman  who  left  her 
husband  of  a  week  because  she  had  computed  mathe- 
matically the  outrageous  number  of  meals  which  she 
would  have  to  prepare  over  a  period  of  twenty  years 
might  well  have  put  a  day-by-day  plank  into  her  mar- 
ital platform.  Parents  who  fear  to  have  children  be- 
cause it  is  estimated  that  at  least  six  thousand  dollars 
will  be  required  to  raise  each  one ;  the  fine  people  every- 
where who  are  losing  the  beauty  of  this  day  because 
of  possible  cancer,  accident  or  financial  disaster  of  the 
future,  all  need  the  day  by  day  idea.  Most  minutes 
are  easy  enough  to  live ;  hours,  as  a  rule,  are  pleasant ; 
days  are  short  and  interesting.  It  is  next  week,  next 
month,  the  date  when  the  mortgage  falls  due,  the 
danger  of  Junior  getting  into  bad  company  when  he 
shall  have  deserted  kindergarten  for  college  that  make 
life  difficult.  Certainly  there  are  people,  and  not  as 
few  of  them  as  we  could  wish,  who  can  scarcely  get 
through  this  very  hour  because  of  hunger  or  dis- 
couragement. To  many  the  imagined  catastrophes 
have  materialized.  Not  everyone  can  find  unalloyed 
joy  this  day.  But,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  those  peo- 
ple are  the  ones  who  carry  hope  to  others.  The  worst 
has  happened — what  comes  now  must  be  better. 

A  woman  who  will  soon  reach  her  eightieth  birth- 
day was  heard  to  say  recently,  "I'm  delighted  to  live 
today — there  are  so  many  interesting  changes  taking 
place.  What  if  I  had  died  at  fifty  and  missed  it  all!" 
Excellent  philosophy,  that.     If  social,  financial,  po- 


litical, educational  and  international  orders  are  to 
change,  why  not  find  the  exhilaration  of  watching 
them  change  and  participating  in  the  changes?  Mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints 
should  be  the  last  to  fear  change,  for  the  foundation 
stone  of  modern  revelation,  on  which  the  structure 
of  the  church  is  reared,  paves  the  way  for  change, 
when  that  shall  come  by  the  voice  of  the  Lord's  ap- 
pointed representatives.  Many  changes  which  are 
taking  place  today  may  be  temporary,  and  not  for 
the  best;  but  surely  they  will  be  but  preliminary  to 
others  which  are  good. 

To  enjoy  the  red  of  today's  robin-breast  is  to  store 
up  something  strengthening  to  help  meet  the  revolu- 
tion of  tomorrow,  if  it  should  come.  Every  hour  of 
friendship,  courtesy,  sympathy,  faith,  fidelity  to  truth 
and  loyalty  to  the  fine  and  good  and  lovely  is  an 
asset  of  character  which  will  help  when  hard  tasks 
arise  and  established  orders  totter.  Stop  crossing 
bridges  before  you  come  to  them,  for  perhaps  by  the 
time  you  really  get  there,  the  bridge  will  have  been 
washed  out  and  you'll  have  the  exciting  opportunity 
to  swim  across  the  stream.  If  you  must  be  a  pessi- 
mist, be  the  kind  who  expects  such  awful  things  that 
everything  which  happens  is  a  pleasant  surprise — but 
let  others  know  that  it  is  pleasant. 

Live  today  with  hope  for  tomorrow  and  faith  in 
the  future.  Day  by  day  extract  from  life  all  that  life 
has  to  offer,  and  if  it  is  not  as  sweet  to  the  taste  as 
you  would  have  it,  find  in  its  bitterness  the  medicinal 
quality  of  herbs.  Few  experiences  in  life  are  devoid 
of  possibilities  for  developing  growth ;  and  in  looking 
for  them  day  by  day,  satisfaction  will  come.  If  it 
comes  not  because  of  ease  and  happiness,  it  will  come 
in  spite  of  them. — E.  T.  B. 


The  Mormon  Battalion  Monument 


'  #  iHE  Erection  of  the  Mormon  Battalion  Monu- 
•*■  ment  is  the  dream  come  true  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  Battalion,  who  through  the  years  kept  the 
campfires  of  their  fathers  burning  until  the  state  of 
Utah  and  her  people  took  notice  and  built  the  Monu- 
ment as  it  stands  upon  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
Capitol  Grounds,  facing  westward,  the  direction  of 
the  Battalion's  celebrated  march.  The  state  legis- 
lature appropriated  $100,000  of  the  funds  for  the 
Monument  contingent  upon  the  people  of  the  state 
duplicating  the  amount  by  popular  subscription.  To 
the  surprise  of  many  the  amount  of  the  popular  sub- 
scription was  raised,  and  after  meeting  many  ob- 
stacles and  overcoming  them  the  Monument  was  fin- 
ished and  unveiled  on  the  annual  Decoration  Day, 
May  30,  1927. 

The  Monument  is  triangular  in  form,  rising  to  a 
height  of  39  feet.  On  the  three  sides  of  the  Monu- 
ment are  four  scenes,  in  high  relief  tablets: 

Northwest  side — The  Enlistment. 
Southwest  side — The  March. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  triangle  is  a  double  scene: 
At  the  right — The  Discovery  of  Gold,   Cali- 
fornia; 
At  the  left — Entrance  of  the  Pueblo  Detach- 


ment into  Salt  Lake  Valley,  July  29,  1847, 
five  days  after  Brigham  Young's  company  of 
Utah  Pioneers. 
There  are  three  figures  besides  the  tablets  to  make 
up  the  Monument.  These  are  the  typical  Battalion 
Man,  in  bronze — ten  feet  high.  On  the  east  side 
above  the  double  tablet  hewn  into  the  rock  is  the 
figure  of  the  Young  Indian  Mother  with  the  babe 
slung  on  her  back,  representing  the  Vanishing  Race  as 
departing  from  the  scenes  of  activities  depicted  on  the 
Monument.  At  the  top  of  the  Monument,  also  hewn 
into  the  rock  headland,  supposed  to  be  overlooking 
the  Pacific,  is  the  figure  of  a  noble  woman — head  and 
bust  and  arms,  with  hair  wind-blown  into  the  head- 
land as  she  makes  her  way  westward.  She  may  be 
called  Spirit  of  the  West;  or  Columbia  Pressing  West- 
ward, or  Spirit  of  Progress.  However  called  she 
dominates  all  the  groups  indicated  and  suggests  a 
unity  to  all  of  them  and  the  direction  of  their  march. 
The  best  idea  of  the  Monument,  aside  from  the 
Monument  itself,  its  majesty  and  beauty,  will  be 
found  in  the  fine  engraving  of  it  on  the  cover  of  this 
July  number  of  the  Improvement  Eva  which  cele- 
brates "Mormon  Battalion  Day,"  July  16th — the 
anniversary  of  the  completed  muster  of  the  Battalion 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States. — B.  H.  Roberts. 


"When  the  sun  sets 
the  sky  flames  with 
splendor. 


"At  the  base  of  the 
Wasatch  Mountains  my 
inland  city  lies.' 


A  ^\ea  and  A  fa  ity 

C*J      By  BEATRICE  K.  EKMAN      V_/ 


THERE'S  a  lure  of  a  sea  and  a  city  that  calls  me 
wherever  I  roam. 
A  sea  that  is  ancient  and  inland,  and  a  city  that 
beckons  me  home. 

At  the  base  of  the  Wasatch  mountains  my  inland  city  lies, 
Green  as  an  emerald  garden,  under  the  summer  skies. 
To  the  west  like  molten  silver  her  face  reflecting  the  blue, 
And  the  changing  clouds  of  the  heavens,  the  old  dead  sea 

lies  too. 
Heavy  her  waves — salt  laden, — Sphinx-like  she  basks  in 

the  sun, 
Telling  no  man  her  secrets  that  the  centuries  have  spun. 
Over  her  briny  bosom  the  gray  gulls  scream  and  fly. 
They  float  on  her  heavy  waters  and  ride  the  white  caps  high. 


When  the  sun  sets  the  sky  flames  with  splendor.  The  sea 
mirrors  copper  and  gold. 

The  clouds  form  in  grand  panorama  as  their  sun-tinted 
banks  are  unrolled. 

And  often  on  still  summer  evenings  when  the  moon  tran- 
scends the  sky 

With  the  jeweled  stars  behind  her  and  the  white  clouds 
trailing  by, 

A  path  shines  over  the  waters,  mystic,  resplendent  and  bright, 

And  Circe  a  song  is  singing  where  the  moon  and  the  sea 
unite. 

And  the  lure  of  the  sea  and  the  city  goes  with  me  wherever 

I  roam, 
A  sea  that  is  ancient  and  inland,  and  a  city  that  beckons 

me  home. 


George  Washington 

By  HAROLD  W.  BENTLEY,  Ph.D. 

Washington  on  Long  Island  and  Manhattan  in  1776!  Those  were 
crucial  days  for  the  Commander-in-Chief!  Harold  W.  Bentley  has  given 
us  here  a  graphic  picture  of  those  trying  times.  Was  ^Providence  in  the 
background  turning  the  tide  of  events  .  .  .?" 


In  New  York  City 

FEW  public  men 
have  written 
more  or  longer 
letters  than  George 
Washington.  In  one 
of  his  shortest  is  this 
alleged  quotation  from 
a  would-be  c  r  i  t  i  c — 
"Heaven  has  been  deter- 
mined to  save  your 
country,  or  a  weak  Gen- 
eral and  bad  counsel- 
lors would  have  ruined 
it."  Just  or  unjust,  the 
writer  of  such  a  state- 
ment may  well  have 
had  in  mind  the  gloomy 
chapter  of  the  war  a- 
round  New  York  City 
in  the  fall  of  1776.  As 
one  reads  accounts  of 
the  campaign  he  cannot 
escape  the  recurring  feel- 
ing that  if  ever  Provi- 
dence was  manifest  in 
an  armed  conflict  it  was 
manifest  in  this  one. 

New  York  City  was 
considered  one  of  the 
most  important  points, 
geographically,  in  the 
Colonies.  There  was  no  question 
in  the  minds  of  both  Americans 
and  British  that  it  would  figure 
prominently  in  the  War.  Hence, 
as  soon  as  Boston  was  evacuated 
by  the  King's  troops  both  military 
chiefs  turned  their  attention  to 
New  York.  This  was  early  in 
1776.  At  that  time  a  peculiar  po- 
litical situation  existed  in  the  city. 
The  population,  as  at  present,  was 
distinctly  cosmopolitan  —  besides 
colonials  and  English  there  were 
Dutch,  Germans,  Scotch,  Irish  and 
Jews  from  Portugal.  The  Euro- 
peans, as  well  as  many  colonials, 
were  averse  to  any  political  move 
that  might  bring  destruction  to 
their  property  or  business  enter- 
prises. New  York  City  was  a 
stronghold     for     Loyalists     and 


Bronze  Plaque  on  Engineering  Building, 
Columbia  University 

Tories.  Open  conflicts  threatened 
from  within  the  city  and  bombard- 
ment from  without  by  the  British 
ships  anchored  menacingly  in  the 
harbor.  Many  Loyalists,  on  their 
own  initiative  or  by  help  of  a  board 
rail  or  tar  bucket,  had  gone  into 
exile  from  the  city  yet  there  re- 
mained conservatism  sufficient  to 
bring  from  John  Adams  of  Massa- 
chusetts the  complaint  that  New 
York  was  "still  asleep  or  dead  in 
politics  and  war."  Official  govern- 
ment was  under  a  Tory  governor 
and  Tory  mayor  but  revolution- 
ary activity  was  sponsored  by  the 
Committee  of  Safety  appointed  by 
American  sympathizers.  This 
committee  was  responsible  for  re- 
strictions on  Tories,  for  ousting 
the  Loyalists  and  for  uncovering 


the  "Hie  key  Plot" 
which  aimed  at  the 
murder  of  Washington 
and  betrayal  of  the  city 
to  the  British.  Indeed, 
the  city  was  in  a  state 
of  constant  excitement 
during  the  latter  part  of 
1775  and  the  spring  of 
1776.  This  condition 
and  the  lack  of  decided 
support  on  the  part  of 
New  York  for  the 
Revolutionary  cause  was 
an  important  factor  in 
Washington's  mind 
when  he  visited  Phila- 
delphia to  stir  Congress 
into  a  realization  of  the 
seriousness  of  the  situa- 
tion. He  returned  with 
a  great  weapon — the 
Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. The  Decla- 
ration was  read  to  the 
American  troops  on  the 
Bowling  Green  and  re- 
sulted in  the  downfall 
of  the  statue  of  George 
the  Third  but  not  the 
downfall  of  his  troops 
a  few  days  later  when 
they  began  the  attack 
on  Long  Island. 
Of  the  acts  in  Washington's  life, 
private  or  public,  that  have  been 
adversely  criticised,  none  has  re- 
ceived such  severe  attacks  as  the 
New  York  City  maneuvers  in  the 
fall  of  1776.  An  American  Brevet- 
Brigadier  General  and  student  of 
military  tactics,  Charles  Francis 
Adams,  is  not  alone  in  his  amaze- 
ment "at  the  mistakes,  from  a  mili- 
tary point  of  view,  of  which 
Washington  was  then  guilty  .  .  . 
Washington  appears  to  have  disre- 
garded almost  every  known  prin- 
ciple of  strategy  or  rule  of  tactics, 
some  of  them  in  a  way  almost 
grotesque  .  .  (and)  .  .  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  Washington  be- 
trayed a  truly  singular  ignorance 
of  what  cannot  be  regarded  other- 
wise than  as  the  elementary  prin- 


518 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


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Washington  Bidding  Farewell  to  his  Officers 


ciples  of  military  movements  .  .  ." 
And  Professor  Van  Tyne  feels  that 
"Only  luck  and  a  dilatory  enemy 
saved  him  from  his  almost  fatal 
errors  in  both  strategy  and  tac- 
tics ..."  Accusations  such  as  these 
ride  rough  shod  over  one's  ideal- 
ized conception  of  the  Command- 
er-in-chief of  the  immortal  Con- 
tinental Army. 

|)URING  the  New  York  cam- 
paign Washington  had  other 
mishaps,  albeit  minor  ones,  with 
his  reputation.  Immoderate,  blind- 
ing rage,  however  righteously  pro- 
voked, is  not  becoming  to  greatness. 
The  perfect  man,  even  under  mad- 
dening circumstances,  must  retain 
self-control  sufficient  to  keep  himself 
and  those  he  directs  from  acts  of 
folly.  This  Washington  seems  to 
have  failed  to  do  on  at  least  one 
occasion.  A  few  Hessians  landed 
at  Kip's  Bay  (the  present  34th 
Street  and  East  River)  and  drove  a 
much  larger  force  of  Americans  in 
a  panic  out  of  their  entrenchments 
and  up  through  the  corn  fields  of 
Manhattan  (about  where  the 
Grand  Central  railroad  station 
now  stands)  .  Washington  inter- 
cepted his  fleeing  soldiers  and  re- 
monstrated with  them.     This  fail- 


ing he  vainly  snapped  his  pistols 
at  them,  even  flayed  them  with 
riding  cane  and  sword  in  an  effort 
to  face  them  about  to  meet  the 
small  force  of  enemy.  As  he 
struggled  against  their  panic  and 
fear  his  rage  overcame  and  mad- 
dened him  to  such  a  degree  that 
he  ignored  his  own  safety  and  that 
of  his  staff.  Had  his  horse,  with 
him  on  it,  not  been  led  away  by 
a  thoughtful  subordinate  Amer- 
ica's Commander-in-chief  might 
have  been  taken  prisoner  or  killed 
in  an  ignominious  situation.  He 
had  become  not  only  speechless 
with  anger  but  motionless.  (This 
same  day  occasion  was  provided 
for  the  now  famous  story  about 
General  Putnam's  escape  while  the 
British  general  and  staff  tarried  at 
Mrs.  Murray's  house  for  their 
Sunday  dinner.  A  daring  young 
officer  named  Aaron  Burr  guided 
Putnam's  soldiers.) 

Washington's  experience  in  this 
New  York  struggle  was  one  bitter 
disappointment  after  another  from 
Columbia  Heights  in  Brooklyn 
across  the  river  and  up  Manhattan 
island  to  the  present  site  of  Colum- 
bia University  at  11 6th  Street. 
Where  today  stand  university 
buildings  named  for  Washington's 


Courtesy  New   York  Public  Library. 

New  York  contemporaries — John 
Jay,  Hamilton,  Livingston  and 
Hartley  and  statues  of  Hamilton 
and  Jefferson,  the  retreating  Amer- 
icans experienced  for  a  very  short 
time  the  only  sweet  sensation  of 
success  during  the  campaign.  A 
bronze  plaque  on  the  engineering 
building  at  Columbia  commem- 
orates the  victory.  It  reads:  'To 
commemorate  the  battle  of  Harlem 
Heights  won  by  Washington's 
troops  on  this  site  September  16, 
1776." 

HPHE  following  day  Washington 
issued  congratulations  in  these 
words:  "The  General  most  heart- 
ily thanks  the  troops  commanded 
yesterday  by  Major  Leitch,  who 
first  advanced  on  the  enemy,  and 
the  others  who  so  resolutely  sup- 
ported them — the  behaviour  yes- 
terday is  such  a  contrast  to  that 
of  some  troops  the  day  before,  as 
must  show  what  may  be  done 
where  officers  and  soldiers  will  ex- 
ert themselves.  Once  more,  there- 
fore, the  General  calls  upon  offi- 
cers and  men  to  act  up  to  the  noble 
cause  in  which  they  are  engaged 
and  support  the  honor  and  liberties 
of  their  country." 

Respite    from    retreat    for    the 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


519 


Americans  was  short.  The  superior     In  the  opinion  of  Professor  Abbot 
British  forces,  as  soon  as  they  were     of  Harvard  University  "The  effort 


inclined  to  action,  were  able  to 
continue  the  drive  until  they  had 
cleared  the  island  of  colonial 
troops  and  had  captured  Fort 
Washington.  On  several  occasions 
whole  detachments  of  American 
troops  were  in  danger  of  be- 
ing captured  with  their  sup- 
plies. Many  individual 
soldiers  were  captured.  A- 
mong  them  one  who  regret- 
ted "only  one  life  to  give" 
for  his  country — Nathan 
Hale.  Taken  as  a  spy  he 
was  executed  as  such  but  be- 
cause of  his  social  and  po- 
litical prominence  and  his 
noble  attitude  he  has  gone 
down  in  history  the  most 
idealized  of  all  spys. 

It  was  a  dark  hour  for 
the  American  cause,  prob- 
ably the  darkest  hour  dur- 
ing the  War.  At  Boston 
Washington  did  not  have 
victory  but  he  had  success 
and  success  next  to  victory 
maintains  both  army  and 
civilian  morale.  At  New 
York  there  was  neither  vic- 
tory nor  success,  except  in 
small  dabs,  rather  there  was 
defeat  after  defeat  and  near- 
disaster  after  near-disaster. 
The  American  army  was  in 
a  pitiful  condition  both 
physically  and  spiritually; 
civilian  disgust  and  hostil- 
ity were  growing  and  the 
hopes  Congress  had  cher- 
ished were  fairly  well  bat- 
tered. Washington  himself  is  said 
to  have  opined  that  "all  is  lost  if 
New  York  be  lost." 

New  York  was  soon  lost.  What 
explanation  and  justification  could 
be  made  by  the  Commander-in- 
chief  on  whom  the  blame  and  the 
criticisms  were  being  heaped?  The 
severest  criticisms  were,  and  still 
are,  levelled  against  the  opening 
days  of  the  campaign.  Why  did 
he  attempt  to  make  a  stand  in 
Brooklyn  and  why  did  he  "disre- 
gard almost  every  known  principle 
of  strategy  or  rule  of  tactics  some 
of  them  in  a  way  almost  gro- 
tesque?"  A  simple  and  accurate 
answer  obviously  is  that  nobody 
knows. 

Recent  American  policy  in  war 
has  been  to  "let  the  man  on  the 
grounds  decide."  Furthermore, 
Congress  favored  a  defense  of  New 
York  for  political  reasons  and 
Washington  was  nothing  if  not 
attentive  to  the  wishes  of  Congress. 


to  hold  New  York  was  one  of 
those  not  infrequent  instances  in 
history  where  real  or  supposed  po- 
litical exigency  overrides  sound 
strategy,  and  politicians  doom  an 
army  and  its  commanders  to   al- 


FEDL1VAL     HALL 

yjie  Sea/    qf         GoXf  o  Jt  K  S  s 

frirut^  >*Sal<l  iy    ADeo/irrle    ,Yew tlaurn      TJ^o 


OS 


Ay  Sidney  Jff.Srnr/A- 


(2X6°VO 


"jyoTOs 


From  a  Rare  Print 

Courtesy  New  York 


Public  Library 


most  certain  failure.      New  York 

could  not  be  held  without  a  fleet; 

and  its  loss  cost  the  Americans  not 

only  the  city  itself,  but  a  great  part      this  campaign.     Practically  the  en- 

of  their  already  too  slender  means      tire  American  army  gathered  in  the 


conflict.  Thus  far  its  experience 
had  been,  if  not  glorious,  at  least 
gratifying.  At  Lexington,  Con- 
cord and  Boston  in  the  north  and 
the  Carolinas  in  the  south  the 
American  forces  had  justified  fair 
or  better  expectations  in  subse- 
quent engagements.  But  they  had 
not  met  the  British  in  open 
battle.  The  real  strength 
of  those  troops  and  the 
weaknesses  of  the  colonials 
were  still  to  be  discovered. 
The  discovery  was  made 
during  the  first  two  days  of 
the  New  York  campaign. 
All  that  could  be  done  then 
was  to  surrender  or  strategic- 
ally retreat.  General  Wash- 
ington personally  directed 
the  retreat.  It  was  an  out- 
standing achievement  in  the 
history  of  military  manoeu- 
vres and  presaged  what  came 
later  by  way  of  Washington 
strategy.  It  was  evidence 
that,  to  quote  a  recent  ac- 
count by  a  British  army  of- 
ficer, "no  selection  to  mili- 
tary command  was  ever 
more  justified  by  the  results 
which  attended  it"  than 
that  of  Washington.  Mak- 
ing due  allowance  for  the 
watch-care  of  an  interested 
Providence  the  removal  of 
the  troops  from  the  heights 
in  Brooklyn  to  the  island 
of  Manhattan  is  a  feat  in 
the  military  career  of  George 
Washington  not  to  be  for- 
gotten. 

Events  that  followed 
during  the  next  month  have  made 
New  York  City  replete  with  his- 
toric spots  that  recall  incidents  of 


for  continuing  the  conflict;  it  near- 
ly cost  them  all.  That  it  was  an 
error  from  even  a  political  much 
less  a  military  standpoint,  was  evi- 
dent from  the  fact  that  its  loss  had 
no  appreciable  effect  on  the  final 
success  of  the  American  cause.  The 
real  strength  of  that  cause,  and  the 
real  greatness  of  its  leader  were  .  .  . 
evidenced  ...  in  the  fact  that,  in 
spite  of  this  reverse,  Washington 
and  his  army  retained  their  fight- 
ing qualities  .  .  .  (and)  .  .  .  when 
Washington  was  able  to  put  his 
own  strategy  into  effect  .  .  .  the 
war  took  on  another  aspect." 


city  and  the  feet  of  patriot  soldiers 
trod  literally  every  foot  of  Man- 
hattan's soil.  Nathan  Hale's  cap- 
ture and  dramatic  execution  has  al- 
ready been  mentioned.  In  New 
York  City  after  the  war  Washing- 
ton bade  his  officers  and  troops  an 
affectionate  farewell.  Later,  when 
elected  first  president  of  the  United 
States  which  he  helped  establish, 
Washington  took  the  oath  of  office, 
delivered  his  inaugural  address  and 
made  his  home  in  this  city  during 
his  terms  of  office. 


DUBLIC  opinion,  which  was  not 
to  be  ignored,  also  favored  a 
defense  of  New  York.     The  army 
itself  was  in  no  mood  to  avoid  a      would    hasten    to    visit    many   of 


TT  is  pleasant  to  imagine,  as  an 
old-time  morning-glory-h  o  r  n 
phonograph  record  facetiously  set 
forth  long  ago,  that  "if  Washing- 
should  come  to  life  today"  he 


ton 


520 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


these  sites  and  recall  some  of  the 
scenes  enacted  during  his  various 
sojourns  in  the  city.  Assuming 
that  he  would  come  up  from 
Mount  Vernon  on  the  Pennsyl- 
vania railroad  he  would  no  doubt 
be  greatly  impressed  by  the  time  he 
emerged  from  the  "Penn"  station 
after  passing  under  the  Hudson 
River  and  half  the  island  through 
a  huge  tube.  The  station  he  would 
learn  is  at  34th  Street  just  across 
the  island  from  Kipp's  Bay,  of 
embarrassing  memory,  and  out  be- 
yond what  was  known,  even  in  his 
day,  as  "the  fields."  The  old  Fed- 
eral Building  in  which  he  took  the 
oath  of  office  he  would  not  find 
among  the  gigantic  and  amazing 
cliff-faced  structures  known  today 
as  "skyscrapers."  But  Fraunces 
Tavern  on  the  corner  of  Pearl  and 
Broad  streets,  though  peculiarly 
out  of  place  among  its  towering 
neighbors,  might  bring  back  mem- 
ories. Such  a  distinguished  visitor 
would  of  course  ride  up  the  old 
winding  Bloomingdale  Road- 
(now  Broadway)  and  be  feted 
with  a  downpour  of  paper  snow 
and  ticker  tape  streamers,  the  cus- 
tomary New  York  greeting  for  fa- 
mous visitors.  Up  at  1 1 6th  Street 
and  Broadway  he  would  no  doubt 
be  shown   with   pride  about   the 


"old  buckwheat  field"  on  Harlem 
Heights  by  Nicholas  Murray  But- 
ler, president  of  Columbia  Uni- 
versity. The  buckwheat  field, 
once  a  scene  of  battle  is  now  Co- 
lumbia's campus.  Between  the 
University  and  the  old  Morris 
House  at  161st  Street  he  would 
find  little  to  remind  him  of  the 
wooded  hills  and  fortifications 
thrown  up  by  his  troops  in  1776. 
As  the  heavy  steel  cars  of  a  subway 
train  thundered  out  of  the  ground 
at  122nd  Street  and  on  trestlework 
crossed  a  swale  at  125th  Street  he 
might  call  to  mind  the  old  "Hol- 
low Way"  through  which  some  of 
his  men  pursued  the  British  on 
September  16th.  But  the  hand- 
some Morris  house,  now  known  as 
the  Jumel  Mansion,  he  would  find 
in  first  rate  condition  overlooking 
the  Harlem  River.  Before  enter- 
ing he  would  pause  on  the  veranda 
to  read  this  inscription  on  a  bronze 
plaque:  "Washington's  Headquar- 
ters. This  tablet  is  dedicated  by 
the  Washington  Heights  Chapter 
of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution  to  the  Memory  of  Gen- 
eral George  Washington  who_oc- 
cupied  this  mansion  as  his  head- 
quarters from  September  16th  to 
October    21st,    1776.      Battle    of 


Harlem  Heights  September  16th. 
President  Washington  visited  this 
mansion  accompanied  by  his  cab- 
inet July,  1790.  Morris  House 
1758,  Jumel  Mansion  1810,  Earle 
Cliff  1900." 

Of  the  old  Fort  Washington  he 
would  find  but  two  vestiges,  a 
bronze  marker  at  183rd  Street  be- 
tween Riverside  Drive  and  Broad- 
way and  a  boulder  cracked  by  the 
fires  of  the  soldiers  in  huts  built 
around  it.  The  boulder  is  pre- 
served on  the  grounds  of  the  high 
school  nearby  named  in  his  honor. 

Washington,  on  this  fanciful 
visit,  would  no  doubt  choose  to 
put  up  at  the  old  Murray  Hill  ho- 
tel on  ground  once  belonging  to 
Mrs.  Murray  of  Putnam's  escape 
fame.  If  so,  he  would  be  near  the 
great  public  library  at  Fifth  Aven- 
ue and  42nd  Street.  And  Wash- 
ington, being  ever  sensitive  to  the 
comments  of  others  about  him, 
would  not  resist  the  urge  to  call  at 
the  library  and  examine  some  of 
the  biographies  and  shorter  articles 
written  about  him.  Here  the  fancy 
of  Washington's  return,  having 
served  its  purpose,  might  be  al- 
lowed to  fade  and  in  its  place  a 
short  consideration  taken  of  the 
man  and  his  biographers. 

(Continued  on  page  565) 


TO  ALL  BRAVE,  HEALTHY,  ABLE  BODIED,  AND  WELL 

DISPOSED  YOUNG  MEN, 

IN  THIS  NEIGHBOURHOOD,  WHO  HAVE  ANY  INCLINATION  TO  JOIN  THE  TROOPS, 

NOW  RAISING  UNDER 

GENERAL   WASHINGTON, 

*fo"r   the  dttt n c e  of  the 

LIBERTIES  AND  INDEPENDENCE 

OF   THE    UNITED    STATES, 

Againft  the  hoftile  defigns  of  foreign  enemies, 

TAKE^OTICE, 


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THAT 

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^1f^ft^>  ff.p.V1      reSl™eul^ infantry,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  AaToH 
tJ?.,  °f  SFIRIT>  as  may  b,c.  willing  to  enter  into  this  honourable  fervice. 


couirty, attendance  will  be,given  bv-, 
'gdenjrfoj  the  pnrpole  of  receiving  the  enrolrment  oi 


r.  l,?  *j."couiiaoement  at  this  ume,  to  enlifl  is  truly  liberal  and  generous,  namely,  a  bounty  of  twelve  dollars,  an  annual  and  fully  fufficicnt 
lupply  oi  good  and  nandfome  clouthimx,  a  daily  allowance  of  a  laree  and  ample  ration  of  provifions,  together  with  sixty  dollars  a  vear  ill  cold 
™g'  ™J  "^LjV,^0""'  "?  Pa>'>  ™e  who1e  of  which  the  foldier  may  lay  up  for  himfelf  and  friends,  "as  all  articles  proper  for  his  fubtiftance  and 
comfort  arc  provided  by  law,  without  any  expence  to  him. 

Thofc  who  may  favour  this  recruiting  party  with  their  attendance  as  above,  will  have  an  opportunity  of  hearing  and  feeing  in  a  more  particular 
manner,  the  great  advantages  which  thefe brave  men  will  have,  who  ihall  embrace  this  opportunity  of  fpendinsr  a  few  happy  years  in  viewing  ihe 
KZSfHi  Z*"1?Ia  Tk^u1  co!",n*nt,  ln  t^  honourable  and  truly  refpeOable  charafter  of  a  foldier,  after  wfiich,  he  may,  if  he  pleafes  return 
home  to  his  friends,  with  his  pockets  fum.  of  money  and  his  head  coveLd  with  laurel.. 

GOD  SAVE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Tb<>  above  recruiting  poster  of  the  Revolution,  representing  American  BOliiiers  going  through  their  drill,  is  a  facsimile  of  the  only  copy  known  to  have  been  preserved, 
which  is  now  iu  the  possession  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.      Editor. 


Front  a  Rare  Document 


Courtesy  New  York  Public  Library. 


East   View  of  the  Battalion  Monument 
Inset:  President  B.  H.  Roberts 


zM 


orrnon 


£>attalion  andZsoLonument 


THE  Mormon  Battalion 
Monument  on  the  Capitol 
Grounds  at  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  is  a  "marker"  for  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States  en  route 
to  their  "manifest  destiny" — the 
expansion  to,  and  their  occupancy 
of  the  Pacific  Coast — God's  nation 
par  excellence — in  America! 

Also  it  is  a  noble  reminder  of 
the  part  the  Latter-day  Saint 
Church  and  her  people  took  in 
that  "manifest  destiny." 

If  one  would  know  how  much 
the  Mormon  Battalion  means  to 
the  History  of  the  Church  of  the 
iNew  Dispensation — to  the  His- 
tory of  Utah,  to  California,  to  the 
Intermountain  and  Coastal  West 
of  the  United  States,  then  elimin- 
ate from  consciousness  the  story 
of  the  Mormon  Battalion  from  the 
movement  of  the  American  peo- 
ple to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  be- 
hold what  a  loss  to  history  would 
be  made  by  that  act!  There  would 
be  no  record  then  of  an  American 
people  expatriated  from  their 
country  for  their  religion — and 
even  while  "wronged  and  scorned" 
tendering  their  service  to  that  coun- 
try in  time  of  war,  and  volunteer- 
ing to  settle  and  hold  for  it  new 
territory  in  prospect  of  conquest. 
There  would  be  no  world-record 
march  of  Infantry  to  the  credit  of 
the  United  States  Army  by  these 
Mormon  volunteers;  no  first 
wagon  trail  completed  to  the  Pa- 
cific   Coast    by    a    Battalion     of 


By  B.  H.  ROBERTS 

United  States'  "Mormon"  troops; 
no  story  of  the  heroism  of  that 
dreadful  march  in  which  human 
kindness  and  mutual  helpfulness 
among  the  men  triumphed  over  all 
but  limitless  desert  waste  and 
mountain  fastness.  There  would 
have  been  delayed  consolidation  of 
the  vast  territory  won  by  conjoint 
action  of  United  States  Army  and 
Navy.  There  would  have  been 
no  prompt  substitution  of  vigor- 
ous Anglo  Saxon  civilization  for 
that  of  a  mongrel,  Spanish-native, 
and  decaying  civilization.  No 
early  mitigation  of  the  harshness 
of  conquerors  of  a  country  and  its 
people,  such  as  led  both  the  sub- 
dued people  and  their  conquerors 
— United  States  officials  of  both 
Army  and  Navy — to  petition  for 
the  re-enlistment  of  the  Battalion, 
or  failing  that  then  the  enlistment 
of  another  Battalion  from  the  same 
people — the  Mormons!  There 
would  have  been  no  record  of  the 
conduct  of  this  United  States  Mor- 
mon Battalion  as  represented  by 
Governor  Mason  of  California  in 
his  report  of  the  Battalion  as  Cal- 
ifornian  Garrison  Troops. 

It  is  a  precious  item  in  United 
States  Military  History,  this  re- 
port.    Governor  Mason  said: 

"They  have  religiously  respected  the 
rights  and  feelings  of  these  conquered  peo- 
ple— the  Mexicans — and  not  a  syllable  of 
complaint  has  reached  my  ears  of  a  single 
insult  offered  or  outrage  done  by  a  Mor- 
mon Volunteer." 


T 


HERE  would  have  been  no 
participation  in,  and  extension 
of,  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Cal- 
ifornia by  members  of  the  Mor- 
mon Battalion;  no  example  with- 
in the  same  year  of  a  large  number 
of  the  Battalion  laying  down  their 
wealth-winning  implements  in  the 
gold  mines,  to  cross  the  mountains 
eastward  and  turn  to  village-build- 
ing in  the  semi-desert  region  of 
Utah  at  the  call  of  duty!  A  tri- 
umph of  duty  over  mammon! 

In  addition  to  the  aforesaid 
things  which  would  have  been 
lost — and  which  are  chiefly  things 
of  the  spirit — it  is  now  a  matter 
of  record  that  the  Battalion  par- 
ticipated in  four  great  concrete 
movements  that  extended,  and  hi 
some  cases  made  possible,  material 
developments  of  the  West.  These 
were : 

The  opening  of  _  the  National 
Highway  to  the  Pacific; 

The  discovery  of  gold  and  the 
extension  of  the  finds  of  it  in  Cal- 
ifornia; 

The  assistance  given  in  develop- 
ing settlements  in  the  Great  Basin 
— especially  in  Utah. 

But  above  all,  the  Monument 
stands  for  the  patriotism  of  a  peo- 
ple; the  heroism  and  virility  of 
their  enlisted  youth  amid  condi- 
tions which  prove  that  the  "Min- 
ute Men  of  Concord"  and  the 
Western  Men  of  the  Mormon  Bat- 
talion were  men  of  the  same  race, 
of  like  spirit — Americans  all! 


Greatness   in  Men 


Scholar,  teacher ■,  writer ,  lecturer,  scientist  and  apostle 
— Dr.  James  E.  Talmage  has  been  and  is  all  of  these. 
In  this  article  President  Hinckley  reveals  the  path  by 
which  this  man  mounted  from  immigrant  boy  to  Apos- 
tle and  to  the  proud  position  of  being  one  of  the  ablest 
defenders  of  the  Church  and  the  Saints  in  these  latter  days. 


James  E.  Talmage 

By  BRYANT  S.  HINCKLEY 

President  of  Liberty  Stake 


PROFESSION- 
ALLY   a   scientist 

and  a  preceptor, 
with  gifts  and  powers 
acquired  by  few,  Dr. 
Talmage  is  also  a  writer 
and  speaker  of  great  abil- 
ity and  skill.  He  is  an 
absolute  master  of  Eng- 
lish, both  by  pen  and  by 
tongue,  and  possesses  a 
musical  eloquence  of  mar- 
velous fluency  and  pre- 
cision. His  style  of  ora- 
tory, though  not  stento- 
rian is  wonderfully  im- 
pressive; his  well  stored 
mind,  capacious  memory, 
quick  recollection  and  re- 
markable readiness  o  f 
speech  render  him  an 
ideal  instructor  in  public 
and  private." 

Such  is  the  estimate  of 
the  historian,  Orson  F. 
Whitney,  as  recorded  in 
Volume  4,  History  of 
Utah,  thirty  years  ago. 

This  is  an  accurate  ap- 
praisal of  Dr.  Talmage's 
ability — he  is  a  scientist, 
a  teacher,  a  writer  and  a 
speaker.  Since  the  day 
this  was  written  he  has, 
with  unusual  diligence, 
pursued  the  tasks  that 
have  come  unasked  to 
him  and  has  moved  steadily  for- 
ward adding  to  the  list  of  academic 
honors  which  he  won  early  in  life, 
and  constantly  contributed  with 
his  pen  and  tongue  to  the  advance- 
ment of  science,  of  education  and 
of  theology — his  later  life  confirm- 


James  Edward  Talmage 

ing  all  the  bright  prophecies  that 
were  made  of  him  as  a  young  man. 

'"PHE  historian  speaks  of  him  as 
a   "scientist."      While   he   was 


permitted  to  follow  this 
line  he  made  important 
contributions  in  various 
fields  and  early  won  in- 
ternational recognition 
for  his  work.  He  is  sci- 
entifically minded  and 
has  stimulated  interest  in 
scientific  study  through 
his  original  work  and 
through  his  ability  to 
present  and  to  popular- 
ize the  subject.  He  was 
the  first  to  establish 
courses  in  domestic  sci- 
e  n  c  e  and  agricultural 
chemistry  in  the  inter- 
mountain  West.  Under 
his  direction  the  Deseret 
Museum  was  made  a 
large  and  influential  in- 
stitution. 

He  is  a  teacher  of  ex- 
traordinary ability — al- 
ways in  complete  mastery 
of  his  subject,  fascinating 
and  inspiring  in  his  pres- 
entation, exacting  but 
reasonable  in  his  require- 
ments, constantly  stimu- 
lating his  students  to 
great  endeavor — he  is  an 
"ideal  teacher." 

He  has  majored  mag- 
nificently as  a  writer  and 
a  speaker  and  will  best 
be  known  to  coming  gen- 
erations through  his  writings  but 
remembered  best  by  the  present 
generation  for  his  eloquence  as  a 
speaker.  There  is  indeed  a  "mu- 
sical eloquence"  about  his  speaking 
which  gives  to  it  a  fascinating  and 
persuasive  quality  rarely  surpassed. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


523 


He  has  spoken  before  congresses 
and  colleges,  from  the  pulpit  and 
the  platform,  on  the  streets  and 
over  the  air  and  with  impressive 
effect. 

Would  it  not  be  interesting  to 
speculate  just  where  his  splendid 
abilities  would  have  taken  him  in 
any  one  of  several  fields  of  en- 
deavor had  he  chosen  to  follow 
them?  His  father  and 
his  grandfather  were 
medical  men  and  he  had 
a  predilection  for  that 
profession,  and  had  he 
followed  it  would,  un- 
doubtedly, have  become 
a  renowned  physician. 

A  NY  one  acquainted 
with  his  capacity, 
his  resourcefulness,  his 
readiness  in  debate  and 
his  ability  as  an  advo- 
cate would  at  once  ac- 
cord him  an  eminent 
place  among  the  great 
jurists  and  lawyers  of 
his  time  had  he  elected 
that  profession.  Both 
of  these  fields  were  very 
alluring  in  the  days  of 
his  young  manhood  and 
would  have  brought  to 
him  worldly  prefer- 
ments and  emoluments 
out  of  all  proportion  to 
anything  he  received.  He 
would  have  gone  to 
great  heights  in  journal- 
ism or  won  distinction 
on  the  lecture  platform. 

The  question  naturally  arises — 
what  determined  his  course?  What 
led  him  to  choose  the  major  work 
of  his  life?  The  answer  is  easy  to 
one  acquainted  with  him.  He  has 
always  sought  divine  guidance  and 
the  counsel  of  his  brethren  in  mak- 
ing important  decisions  and  has 
followed  the  counsel  given  with- 
out question  or  hesitation  and  with 
ultimate  joy  and  satisfaction. 

Dr.  Talmage  is  deeply  religious 
and  has  always  been  active  in  the 
Church.  Since  December  8,  191 1, 
when  he  was  set  apart  as  one  of 
the  Council  of  the  Twelve,  he  has 
devoted  himself  almost  exclusively 
to  his  ministerial  duties  and  has 
given  a  service  distinguished  for  its 
scholarship  and  consecration.  His 
life  has  been  an  example  and  an 
inspiration  to  young  people  who 
have  looked  to  him  with  pride  and 
admiration. 

He  has,  with  learning  and  with 
logic,  defended  his  faith  at  home 
and    abroad    and    expounded    the 


doctrines  of  the  Church  with  a 
clearness  and  cogency  unsurpassed. 
James  E.  Talmage  will  go  into  his- 
tory as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
brilliant  advocates  of  "Mormon- 
ism."  In  this  work  he  has  found 
lasting  satisfaction  and  made  the 
supreme  contribution  of  his  life; 
without  question  it  is  greater  and 
more   fundamental  than  anything 


May  Booth  Talmage 

he  might  have  done  in  other  fields. 

TAMES  E.  TALMAGE  was 
J  born  in  the  little  town  of 
Hungerford,  Berkshire,  England, 
September  21,  1862,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  this  country 
arriving  in  Salt  Lake  City  in  June, 

1876.  The  family  became  estab- 
lished in  Provo  and  James  entered 
the  Brigham  Young  Academy  at 
the  opening  of  its  first  regular 
academic  year.  In  his  native  land 
he  was  a  diocesan  prize  scholar  at 
twelve  years  of  age.  At  fourteen 
he  entered  the  Brigham  Young 
Academy  and  came  in  contact  with 
Karl  G.  Maeser  who  was  not  slow 
to  discover  that  this  English  boy 
possessed  superior  possibilities.  The 
fifty-five  years  which  have  passed 
since  he  enrolled  in  that  institu- 
tion have  verified  all  of  the  hopes 
and  anticipations  held  out  by  Dr. 
Maeser  concerning  this  boy.  A- 
mong    the   thousands   of  students 


who  have  registered  in  that  insti- 
tution since  its  establishment  we 
do  not  call  to  mind  any  one  more 
highly  endowed  than  he  is.  His 
mind,  luminous  and  absorbent, 
coupled  with  his  matchless  indus- 
try, very  early  in  life  won  for  him 
a  proud  place  among  the  scholars 
and  leaders  of  his  time. 

His  contact  with  Karl  G.  Maeser 
was  a  fortunate  and 
happy  one,  for  Dr. 
Maeser  was  indeed  a 
technician  in  the  fine 
art  of  character  build- 
ing. There  was  a  lofty 
idealism  about  him  and 
a  rational  and  enlight- 
ened faith  permeated  all 
he  said  and  did.  This 
had  a  deep  and  per- 
manent influence  upon 
the  life  and  character  of 
Dr.  Talmage.  Although 
the  Academy  was  in 
those  days  small  and 
financially  poor  there 
was  something  great 
about  it — the  soul,  the 
atmosphere  of  the  in- 
stitution radiated  to  ev- 
ery city  and  hamlet  of 
the  Church  carrying  the 
name  and  fame  of  Karl 
G.  Maeser,  James  E. 
Talmage  and  others. 

In    June,     1879,    he 
was  graduated  from  the 
Normal   department   of 
that      institution,      the 
highest  in  his  class,  and 
in  his  seventeenth  year 
he  was  employed  as  a  regular  in- 
structor there,  teaching  elementary 
science,    Latin    and    English.      He 
taught  full  time  and  received  for 
his  services  the  munificent  sum  of 
$3.00  per  week  or  $120.00  for  the 
school  year.     The  second  year  his 
pay   was   increased    to    $5.00    per 
week.     That  was  before  the  days 
of  depression. 

DEFORE  entering  the  services  of 
his  Alma  Mater  he  was  offered 
a  responsible  and  a  highly  remun- 
erative position,  for  those  days,  in 
the  public  schools  of  Provo.  He 
needed  money  and  needed  it  badly 
and  was  in  grave  doubt  as  to  just 
what  would  be  the  best  thing  to 
do.  Following  his  usual  custom 
he  sought  divine  guidance.  Re- 
tiring to  a  secluded  place  in  a  near- 
by canyon  he  prayed  with  all  the 
fervor  of  his  soul  for  wisdom  to 
guide  him  in  his  decision  and  re- 
ceived a  clear  and  satisfying  an- 
swer to  his  prayer,  after  which  he 


524 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


went  cheerfully  to  work  in  the 
Academy  not  knowing  what  the 
remuneration  would  be.  And  so 
all  his  life  he  has  had  the  humility 
and  the  faith  to  seek  light  from 
this  divine  source.     The  current  of 


Susannah  Preater  Talmage 

his  religious  life  runs  deep  and  still 
and  strong.  He  has  never  drifted 
from  the  moorings  of  his  early 
faith  which  is  childlike  and  beau- 
tiful. His  life  furnishes  many  il- 
luminating and  faith-promoting 
lessons. 

When  asked — "When  and 
where  did  you  receive  a  testimony 
of  the  gospel?"  he  answered: 
"That  I  do  not  know,  I  believe  I 
was  born  with  it  as  I  belong  to  the 
third  generation  of  Talmages  in 
the  Church.  My  paternal  grand- 
parents, James  Talmage  of  Rams- 
bury,  Wiltshire,  England,  and  his 
wife,  Mary  Joyce  of  Hampshire, 
England,  were  the  first,  or  among 
the  first,  to  join  the  Church  in  that 
part  of  England.  My  father,  James 
Joyce  Talmage,  and  my  mother, 
Susannah  Preater  (Talmage)  be- 
came members  of  the  Church  be- 
fore I  was  born.  They  were  ac- 
tive and  devoted  members." 

Continuing  he  said:  "Though 
I  seem  to  have  been  born  with  a 
testimony  yet  in  my  early  ado- 
lescence I  was  led  to  question 
whether  that  testimony  was  really 
my  own  or  derived  from  my  par- 
ents. I  set  about  investigating  the 
claims  of  the  Church  and  pursued 
that  investigation  by  prayer,  fast- 
ing and  research  with  all  the  ardor 
of  an  investigator  on  the  outside. 
While  such  a  one  investigates  with 
a  view  of  coming  into  the  Church 


if  its  claims  be  verified,  I  was  seek- 
ing a  way  out  of  the  Church  if  its 
claims  should  prove  to  me  to  be 
unsound.  After  months  of  such 
inquiry  I  found  myself  in  posses- 
sion of  an  assurance  beyond  all 
question  that  I  was  in  solemn  fact 
a  member  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ.  I  was  convinced  once  for 
all,  and  this  knowledge  is  so  fully 
an  integral  part  of  my  being  that 
without  it  I  would  not  be  myself." 

QN  June  15,  1873,  he  was  bap- 
tized and  confirmed  a  member 
of  the  Church  by  his  father.  His 
baptism  took  place  under  circum- 
stances of  the  most  extraordinary 
character,  as  published  in  the  Era, 
Vol.  25,  p.  675.  He  was  ordained 
a  deacon,  teacher,  elder,  high  priest 
and  apostle  successively. 

In  conversation  he  said:  "Every 
call  I  have  received  to  office  in  the 
priesthood  has  come  to  me  because 
some  one  was  needed  to  fill  a  par- 
ticular place,  and  was  in  no  sense 
a  matter  of  advancement  or  honor 
to  myself  as  an  individual.  The 
greatest  joys  of  my  life  have  come 
to  me  through  activities  in  the 
Church  and   these  have  been  the 


An  hour  of  reading  enjoyed  at  home 

activities  of  a  member  rather  than 
an  officer.  Early  in  life  I  realized 
that  I  would  have  to  live  with  my- 
self more  than  with  anybody  else 
and  I  have  tried  to  so  live  that  I 
would  be  in  good  company  when 
alone." 

After  concluding  to  devote  him- 
self to  education  he  laid  plans  for 
taking  a  college  course  and  thus 
better  prepare  himself.  Many  of 
his  brethren  to  whom  he  looked 
for  advice  warned  him  against  this, 
feeling  that  it  would  jeopardize, 
if  not  destroy,  his  faith  to  go  away 


from  home  to  college.  He  finally 
asked  advice  from  President  John 
Taylor  and  with  reference  to  this 
visit  Dr.  Talmage  said: 

"I  have  often  marveled  at  the 
kindness     and     condescension     of 


V 


.-■ 


James   Joyce    Talmage, 
Father  of  James  E. 

President  Taylor  in  spending  near- 
ly two  hours  with  me.  In  the 
course  of  our  conversation  he  in- 
quired into  my  work  and  plans. 
He  advised  me  strongly  to  enter  a 
University  in  the  East  and,  to  my 
grateful  surprise,  laid  his  hands  on 
my  head  and  blessed  me  for  the 
undertaking.  The  blessing  thus 
pronounced  has  been  realized  in 
both  spirit  and  letter." 

TN  1882  Dr.  Talmage  entered 
Lehigh  University,  Bethlehem, 
Pennsylvania,  as  a  special  student 
and  passed,  during  his  single  year 
of  residence,  nearly  all  the  require- 
ments of  a  four  year  course  and 
was  later  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution. While  a  student  there 
he  was  offered  a  position  as  lab- 
oratory assistant  which  carried  a 
salary  sufficient  to  meet  his  needs 
for  the  next  year.  This  was  a  dis- 
tinct recognition  of  his  ability.  He 
declined  this  offer  and  went  to 
Johns  Hopkins  University  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  special- 
ized in  chemistry  and  geology. 
Here  again  he  won  recognition  and 
the  most  enticing  prospects  were 
held  out  to  him. 

He  was  called  home  to  resume 
his  work  in  the  Brigham  Young 
Academy  and  responded  to  the 
call.  Here  he  served  as  professor 
of    geology    and    chemistry,    with 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


525 


James   E.    Talmage   as   he   appeared 
in  academic  robes 


Dr.  Talmage  in  his  private  laboratory 


varied  activities  in  other  depart- 
ments. While  still  of  the  faculty 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Brigham 
Young  Academy.  During  his 
residence  in  Provo  he  served  suc- 
cessively as  city  councilman,  alder- 
man and  justice  of  the  peace.  His 
services  were  now  eagerly  sought 
and  many  opportunities  were  open 
to  him. 

He  was  President  of  and  Pro- 
fessor of  chemistry  in  the  Latter- 
day  Saints  College  1888-93; 
President  of  and  Professor  of 
Geology  in  the  University  of  Utah 
1894-97.  In  the  last  named  year 
he  resigned  the  Presidency  but  re- 
tained the,  chair  of  geology,  and 
ten  years  later  (1907)  he  resigned 
this  professorship  to  follow  min- 
ing geology. 

In  1891  he  received  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Science  and  in  1912 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Science 
from  Lehigh  University.  In  1922 
he  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  Utah  and  from  the  Brig- 
ham  Young  University.  He  be- 
longs to  many  learned  societies  and 
has  traveled  extensively  in  scientific 
pursuits. 

pOR  many  years  he  has  been  a 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Micro- 
scopical Society  (London) ,  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  Scottish  Geographi- 
cal Society  (Edinburgh) ,  Fellow 
of  the   Geological   Society    (Lon- 


don) ,  Fellow  of  the  Geological 
Society  of  America,  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  Asso- 
ciate of  the  Philosophical  Society 
of  Great  Britain,  or  Victoria  In- 
stitute, and  Fellow  of  the  Ameri- 


Mining  Geology  has  held  a  prominent 
place  in  his  vocational  life 

can  Association  for  the  Advance- 
ment of  Science. 

His  connection  with  these  so- 
cieties has  given  him  a  standing 
and  a  recognition  among  men  of 
great  influence  which  could  not  be 
secured  in  any  other  way,  and  he 
has  used  this  for  the  advancement 


of  the  Church  and  it  has  meant  a 
very  great  deal.  This  was  con- 
spicuously the  case  while  he  pre- 
sided over  the  European  Mission 
(1924-28). 

As  a  result  the  attitude  of  the 
newspapers  throughout  England 
was  entirely  changed.  In  this  way 
Dr.  Talmage  has  been  able  to  give 
a  service  which  probably  no  other 
man  thus  far  has  been  able  to  give. 

If  this  article  were  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  his  educational  and 
scientific  achievements  it  could 
scarcely  catalogue  them  in  the 
space  allotted. 


I 


N  addition  to  all  of  this  he  has 
written  extensively  on  theologi- 
cal and  scientific  subjects.  Among 
his  writings  are:  First  Book  of 
Nature,  Domestic  Science,  The 
Great  Salt  Lake — Present  and  Past, 
Tables  for  the  Blowpipe  Deter- 
mination of  Minerals,  An  Account 
of  the  Origin  of  the  Book  of  Mor- 
mon, The  Articles  of  Faith,  The 
Great  Apostasy,  The  House  of  the 
Lord,  The  Story  of  Mormonism, 
The  Philosophical  Basis  of  Mor- 
monism, The  Vitality  of  Mor- 
monism, Jesus  the  Christ,  Sunday 
Night  Talks  by  Radio. 

To  get  a  correct  estimate  of  the 
character  of  Dr.  Talmage  one  must 
know  something  of  his  domestic 
life.  One  discovers  the  same  ca- 
pacity for  always  doing  the  fitting 
and  appropriate  thing  at  home,  as 
(Continued  on  page  567) 


Nothing  Ventured, 


This  old  title  suggests  an 
old, old  story— yet  that  story  is 
perennially  new.  Each  new 
generation  lights  its  own 
fires. 


By     • 
Irene  Dunlap 


Edith's  small  face  reflected  the 
glow  of  her  more  radiant  sister  as 
she  followed  Carmen's  every  ges- 
ture. "Ah,  but,  dear,  it's  a  real 
test  of  your  ability.  And  every- 
one says  you  are  marvelous.  You 
haven't  told  me,  tho,  how  Phil 
Mcsser  fits  into  the  role  of 
Aeneas." 


Nothing  Gained 


c 


IARMEN  STRATTON  sat  before 
her  pretty  French  gray  dressing  table,  lazily  adding 
more  color  to  her  vivid  scarlet  lips.  To  her  sister, 
Edith,  watching  her  hungrily  from  a  low  rocker  by 
the  window,  she  was  the  prettiest  thing  in  the  world. 
Saucy  and  impudent  sometimes  with  all  the  arro- 
gance of  seventeen  but  delightfully  vivid  and  re- 
freshingly youthful  when  one's  own  life  is  disap- 
pointingly colorless. 

There  were  points  of  similarity  between  them, 
Edith  realized,  as  she  let  her  gaze  rest  upon  her  sister 
in  open  adoration.  Both  of  them  had  thick  lustrous 
black  hair.  But  Carmen's  had  a  natural  wave  and 
Edith's  was  painfully  plain.  There  were  the  same 
velvety  brown  eyes.  But  Carmen's  were  melting, 
flashing,  scornful,  pleading,  and  Edith's  were  only 
softly  subdued.  Altogether  nature  had  created  Car- 
men more  lavishly.  Had  given  her  a  snap  and 
verve  and  individuality  that  set  her  apart. 

With  a  hasty  glance  at  the  tiny  enamel  clock, 
Carmen  rose  with  a  glowing  face  and  hurriedly 
snatched  frock  and  shoes  from  a  crowded  closet. 

"Heavens,  Eda,  I'll  have  to  rush.  Here  I  have 
wasted  ten  minutes  dreaming.  And  if  I  am  late 
to  dress  rehearsal — oh  boy,  I'll  catch  it  from  Miss 
Williams." 

She  wriggled  her  tall,  lithe  suppleness  into  an  ab- 
breviated garnet-hued  dress.  "I'm  so  excited  I  could 
burst.  Think,  tomorrow  night  is  the  show.  You 
know,  though,  Eda,  it's  the  hardest  role  I  have  ever 
had.  Imagine  me — seductive,  languorous  Dido.  En- 
ticing the  handsome  battle-worn  Aeneas  to  staying  on 
the  shores  of  Carthage  when  he  ought  to  be  away 
founding  a  new  empire.  Sometimes,  right  in  the 
middle  of  all  my  seductiveness,  I  want  to  howl, 
'Let's  all  go  down  to  the  Green  Mill  and  make 
whoopee'." 

.tLDITH'S  small  face  reflected  the  glow 
of  her  more  radiant  sister  as  she  followed  Carmen's 
every  gesture.  "Ah,  but,  dear,  it's  a  real  test  of 
your  ability.  And  everyone  says  you  are  marvelous. 
You  haven't  told  me,  though,  how  Phil  Messer  fits 
into  the  role  of  Aeneas." 

Carmen's  face  clouded  for  an  instant.  Then  she 
answered  with  a  short  nervous  laugh,  "Oh,  he  does 
the  part  beautifully.  It's  rather  difficult  for  me, 
tho.     You  know  the  feeling  between  us." 

She  drew  on  a  'fuzzy  red  tarn.  "Of  course,  he 
doesn't  mind  in  the  least  playing  opposite  me — 
I'm  that  far  beneath  his  notice — and  I  flatter  myself 
that  no  one  knows  I  mind  playing  lead  to  him." 

Edith  picked  up  her  neglected  needlework  and 
crossed  the  room  with  her  slight  limp.  "He  prob- 
ably doesn't  dislike  you  at  all,  Honey.  Don't  see 
how  he  could.  Why,  you  are  cold,  dear.  Cold  and 
positively  shaking.     Are  you  nervous?" 


"Yes,  I  am,  now  that  the  presentation  is  so  near. 
I  want  so  badly  to  make  good."  Tears  were  peril- 
ously near. 

Eda  petted  her  fondly  and  whispered,  "You  have 
never  failed  to  make  good  yet.  Of  course  you  can 
do  it  well." 

Then,  at  the  sound  of  imperious  ringing  below, 
"There  is  the  bell.     Is  it  Dick?" 

"Probably.  He  is  coming  for  me.  Answer  it 
like  a  dear,  will  you?" 

uHE  smiled  wistfully  after  her  sister. 
Dear  old  Eda!  She  understood  most  things  but  she 
wouldn't  understand  this  feeling  between  herself 
and  Phil. 

Rehearsal  went  badly  as  dress  rehearsals  are  apt  to 
do.     Miss  Williams  was  visibly  agitated. 

"That  is  the  trouble  with  trying  to  economize 
by  getting  your  costumes  the  day  before  the  play," 
she  confided  to  Superintendent  Mills.  "Philip's 
helmet  is  miserably  tight.  I  doubt  if  he  can  stand 
it  during  the  entire  evening.  And  I  found  Carmen 
in  tears  after  the  first  act  over  the  fact  that  her 
first  'costume  came  the  wrong  shade  of  blue  and 
she  doesn't  think  it  is  becoming.  I  suppose  that  was 
what  was  the  matter.  I  don't  know.  Sometimes 
I  don't  pretend  to  understand  the  moods  of  these 
High  School  youngsters." 

"Now,  let's  put  all  we  have  into  Act  III,"  she 
commanded,  directing  her  attention  to  the  stage. 
"Carmen,  you  aren't  nearly  as  much  of  a  siren  to- 
night'as  you  can  be.  Do  you  suppose  Aeneas  would 
linger  very  long  in  your  city  if  you  were  as  cool  as 
you  are  tonight?  Try  to  remember  you  are  holding 
him  against  his  own  better  judgment  and  the  will 
of  the  gods." 

"I'll  try,  Miss  Williams,"  Carmen  answered 
meekly. 

IT  wouldn't  be  so  hard  to  do,  she  thought 
rebelliously,  if  she  were  playing  opposite  Dick  or 
one  of  the  other  boys.  But  to  try  to  entice  that 
icicle  of  a  Phil  Messer.  Of  course,  he  was  marvelous 
while  they  were  rehearsing.  Acted  to  perfection  the 
infatuated  lover  and  probably  no  one  else  noticed 
it,  but  even  while  he  was  showering  her  with  caresses 
she  could  see  the  hate  in  his  eyes.  Of  course,  she 
shouldn't  let  it  affect  her,  but  when  he  passed  her 
in  the  wings  at  the  end  of  the  first  act  and  said  brutal- 
ly, "If  you  are  as  rotten  as  this  tomorrow  night,  you 
will  gum  the  whole  show,"  she  just  had  to  run 
into  the  dressing  room  and  squall.  Nerves,  she 
supposed,  and  tension.  Miss  Williams  thought  it 
was  because  the  dress  came  the  wrong  shade. 

Well,  if  Phil  was  going  to  act  so  hateful,  he  would 
ruin  her  part.  That  was  all.  There  was  no  sense 
in  his  being  so  nasty.  (Continued  on  page  572) 


Top,  left  to  right:  Superintendent  George  Albert  Smith  and  President  Ruth  May 
Fox  at  the  Washington  Memorial  Tree.  Doris  Dalby  and  Lila  Kainz  (above).  William 
Mulder  and  Elwin  Garfield  (below).     Nellie  Baker  and  Wm.  Powell. 

In  circle,  Noble  Cain. 

Reading  down:  Dance  Contestants;  Drama  Cast,  South  Davis  Stake;  General  Board 
of  the  M.  I.  A.'s;  Vanguard  Archery  Contest;  General  Board  Members  in  Costume  for 
"Rally  of  Nations"  (Left) ;  Trail  Marker  Ceremony  (right). 


broadcastings  from  the 
M.  I.  A.  ^Annual  Qnference 


THEME  of  the  Conference: 
"The  Opportunity  of  the 
Hour — To  Enrich  Leisure, 
to  Spiritualize  Recreation." 

Given  in  the  opening  meeting  in 
the  Assembly  Hall — 

Messages:  Superintendent 
George  Albert  Smith,  "Honor  the 
Lord,  keep  His  commandments, 
serve  the  youth." 

President  Ruth  May  Fox: 
"Take  it  from  me,  as  the  young 
people  say,  hold  fast  to  the  simple 
faith." 

Executive  Secretary  Oscar  A. 
Kirkham:  "We  are  grateful  for  the 
machine.  It  has  raised  the  bur- 
dens from  a  million  backs,  but  it 
has  thrown  out  a  challenge  to  us. 
We  must  provide  for  the  enrich- 
ment of  leisure  time,  and  in  order 
for  us  to  do  that  we  must  have 
more  than  technique,  more  than  a 
mere  bundle  of  tricks;  we  must 
have  spirituality!" 

President  Heber  J.  Grant:  "I  re- 
joice in  the  advancement  we  are 
making  in  different  lines,  but  above 
all  I  rejoice  when  I  hear  of  hu- 
mility, of  faith,  and  of  a  desire  to 
give  service.  I  don't  believe  I 
would  stand  in  this  place  at  the 
head  of  this  Church  had  I  not  had 
a  desire  to  give  service  when  fifty 
odd  years  ago  I  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  mutual  board.  If  I  can 
plant  in  your  hearts  the  spirit  of 
humility,  I  shall  be  glad." 

The  latter  part  of  the  opening 
session  was  given  over  to  the  pres- 
entation of  the  winning  act  of  the 
Granite  Stake  Road  Show — '.'The 
Improvement  Era,  the  voice  of  the 
M.  I.  A.,"  which  was  presented 
by  Sugar  House  Ward  of  the 
Granite  Stake. 

High  Points  of  the  Annual 
Conference 

gUPERINTENDENTS'  a  n  d 
Presidents'  Luncheon  in  the 
Bee  Hive  House,  Friday  at  noon, 
where  General  Board  members  in 
costumes  of  the  nations  served  and 
Ruth  May  Fox,  president  of  the 
Y.  L.  M.  I.  A.,  and  President 
Heber  J.   Grant  spoke  briefly  de- 


scribing the  house  and  Elder 
George  Albert  Smith,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  presided. 

Reception  and  outing  at  Saltair 
when  more  than  1200  M.  I.  A. 
workers  joined  in  the  "Rally  of 
the  Nations"  in  a  luncheon,  each 
group  headed  by  a  member  of  the 
General  Board  in  costume  repre- 
senting a  particular  nation. 

Grand  Finals  Contest  Dance, 
Saltair  Pavilion,  when  18  couples 
gathered  representing  the  follow- 
ing stakes  and  missions:  Utah, 
Oquirrh,  North  Davis,  Boxelder, 
Grant,  Nebo,  Parowan,  Sevier, 
Benson,  Pocatello,  Fremont,  Boise, 
Los  Angeles,  San  Luis,  Taylor, 
Carbon,  San  Francisco,  North- 
western States  Mission. 

George  Washington  Bi-centen- 
nial  Celebration,  Tabernacle 
Grounds,  when  and  where  a  tree, 
which  is  a  descendant  from  a  tree 
planted  by  George  Washington  on 
the  Potomac,  was  planted  by  mem- 
bers of  the  General  Board  led  by 
Superintendent  George  Albert 
Smith  and  President  Ruth  May 
Fox  followed  by  an  address  by 
Hon.  John  F.  Bowman  and  by 
mass-flag  exercises  by  Boy  Scouts 
and  Bee  Hive  Girls. 

Grand  Music  Festival,  Salt 
Lake  Tabernacle  Saturday  night, 
when  2,852  singers  from  41  stakes 
were  led  in  the  contest  songs  and 
in  "An  Ode  To  Youth,"  an  orig- 
inal composition,  words  by  Elsie 
Talmage  Brandley,  associate  editor 
of  the  Improvement  Era,  and  mu- 
sic by  J.  Spencer  Cornwall,  direc- 


Erratum 

In  the  article  "Orson  Pratt,  Pioneer 
of  the  Utah  Pioneers"  published  in 
the  Official  Souvenir  Pamphlet  of  the 
Memorial  Tablet,  marking  the  Great 
Salt  Lake  Base  and  Meridian,  it  is 
stated  that  on  the  21st  of  July  Orson 
Pratt  stood  upon  the  "Northeast,, 
corner  of  what  is  now  (Temple  Square. 
It  should  be  near  the  " SoutheasV 
corner  of  Temple  Square. 

The  statement  is  authorized  from 
what  Orson  Pratt  himself  said  in  a 
public  discourse  on  August  11,  1867, 
(Journal  of  Discourses,  vol.  xii,  pp. 
88-9). 


tor  of  music  for  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 
The  guest  conductor  was  Noble 
Cain,  director  of  the  Chicago  A 
Capella  Choir.  Mr.  Alexander 
Schreiner  acted  as  accompanist  and 
soloist.  (This  event  was  not  only 
a  (high  spot  of  the  conference  and 
convention,  but  was  also  one  of 
the  high  spots  in  the  cultural  his- 
tory of  the  Church.) 

Joint  Officers  Instruction  and 
Testimony  Meeting,  Assembly 
Hall,  Sunday  morning. 

General  Session,  Great  Taber- 
nacle at  1 1  o'clock  Sunday  morn- 
ing under  the  direction  of  the  Pri- 
mary Association  in  which  1,000 
children  sang,  directed  by  Matilda 
W.  Cahoon,  with  Edward  P.  Kim- 
ball, accompanist.  (This  was  an 
unusually  fine  session  timed  to  the 
minute.) 

Salt  Lake  Base  and  Meridian 
Marker  Ceremony  held  at  4:15  at 
the  Southeast  corner  of  the  Temple 
block  where  a  plaque  describing  the 
marker  was  unveiled,  by  Lathilla 
Pratt  Kimball,  daughter  of  Orson 
Pratt,  who  placed  the  base  merid- 
ian, and  where  a  son  of  Brigham 
Young  and  a  son  of  Erastus  Snow, 
respectively,  opened  and  closed 
with  prayer  and  where  President 
A.  W.  Ivins,  pioneer  and  trail- 
blazer,  spoke.  The  ceremony  was 
in  charge  of  George  Albert  Smith, 
president  of  Utah  Pioneer  Trails 
and  Landmarks  Association. 

In  the  general  session  held  in 
the  Great  Tabernacle  Sunday  after- 
noon, President  A.  W.  Ivins  pro- 
nounced the  conference  and  con- 
vention to  have  been  like  an  oasis 
in  a  desert  to  him.  President  Heber 
J.  Grant  declared  that  the  entire 
program  had  been  an  inspiration 
and  that  the  singing  of  the  chil- 
dren had  been  especially  pleasing. 

A  more  complete  report  of  the 
conference  will  be  given  next 
month. 

Grand  Finals  Held  on  Friday, 

June   10,  and  Saturday, 

June  11,  1932 

T^HE  grand  finals  in  drama,   public 
speaking,    retold  story   and  Van- 
guard contests  in  Van  ball  and  archery 
(Continued  on  page  552) 


THE 


anyon 


Wt 


ar 


By  RUTH  MAY  FOX 


On  July  24,  1857,  while  President  Brigham  Young  and  a  large  percentage  of  the  Saints 
were  having  a  celebration  in  the  canyon — now  called  Brighton — messengers  brought  word  of 
the  approach  of  an  army  of  the  United  States.  The  army  did  not  enter  the  Valley  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake  until  June  26,  1858.  The  emotional  tenseness  of  the  situation  is  to  be 
found  in  these  lines  by  Ruth  May  Fox,  herself  a  pioneer. 


LONG  years  ago  the  story  goes — 
Exactly  when  no  mortal  knows, 
Where  sunbeams  glint  the  Wasatch  hills 

And  send  the  snows  in  trickling  rills 
Adown  the  cliffs  to  cupping  dells, 

To  dally  with  the  purple  bells, 
The  columbine  and  dainty  flow'rs 

Which  nature  strews  in  wild-wood-bow 'rs, 
The  fairies  met  on  one  fair  eve 

For  consultation.     "By  your  lieve," 
The  leader  said — •" We've  gathered  here, 

Beneath  the  moonbeams  soft  and  clear," 
And  as  she  spoke  she  waved  her  wand, 

Before,  behind  on  every  hand — 
"Lords,  princes,  pages,  fairies,  elves; 

First,  to  congratulate  ourselves 
On  this  proud  realm  within  these  peaks, 

Whose  tow'ring  heights  the  cloudlet  seeks 
Where  Nature  lavish  with  her  charms 

Doth  hold  us  in  protecting  arms, 
The  while  we  fill  our  destiny 

And  write  our  page  of  history. 


'Tis  ours  to  give  this  beaut'ous  spot 

Still  greater  charm — forget  you  not, 
That  mortals  yet  shall  wander  here 

Regardless  of  the  fairies'  tear; 
Aye,  there  shall  come  a  gladsome  band, 

Led  hither  by  a  master  hand, 
Who'll  praise  their  God  for  this  retreat, 

For  breezes  pure  and  odors  sweet. 
Beyond  these  vales  with  mighty  strife 

Shall  thrill  the  desert  into  life; — 
Cheer!  Fairies,  cheer!  for  the  great  chief, 

Who'll  set  the  vales  with  bloom  and  sheaf 
And  sparkling  rills."     Up  sprang  the  host, 

Ten  thousand  strong,  with  inward  boast 
That  each  would  raise  the  heartiest  shout 

As  whirled  their  kerchiefs  round-about, 
Which  soft  and  sheer  as  thistle-down, 

By  wand'ring  zephyrs  thither  blown, 
Changed,  instantly,  the  spangled  green, 

Into  a  swaying  lily  scene; 
And  up  the  rugged  cliffs  there  ran 
{Continued  on  page  552) 


i  nC/^  |( 


car 


By  Maxa  Million 


i 


T  was  all  so  sudden, 
so  unexpected — the  sight  of  that 
scarred  face  in  the  avalanche  of  hu- 
manity, that  for  a  moment  old 
Judge  Halsom  felt  his  knees  grow 
weak  and  his  breath  form  in  short 
gasps. 

As  quickly  as  the  face  appeared 
it  vanished  and  the  old  man  felt 
himself  being  swept  relentlessly  on 
toward  the  Tabernacle.  Five  thou- 
sand people  hemmed  him  in,  bil- 
lowed and  surged  about  him. 
Their  voices  beat  upon  conscious- 
ness like  the  slap  of  waves  on 
jagged  rock. 

Once  he  caught  a  whisper  near 
him.  "See, — that  man  in  gray. 
Judge  Halsom  of  Pittsburg — one 
of  the  richest  men  in  the  country. 
Railroads  is  his  middle  name." 

"Oh,"  understanding  crept  into 
the  other  voice,  "Used  to  be  a 
'Mormon.'  I've  heard  about  him. 
Visiting  some  big  gun  in  Salt  Lake 
now.  Wonder  what  he'll  think 
of  our  Pageant." 


The  spectacle  was  movingly  famil- 
iar. Every  opening,  like  a  lifted 
head-gate,  let  in  a  rushing  stream 
of  humanity.  Had  he  not  been 
shaken  to  his  very  core  the  scene 
would  have  appealed  to  him  with 
almost  as  much  freshness  as  on 
that  other  occasion  when  he  had 
first  visited  this  historic  building. 

He  closed  his  eyes  to  shut  out  the 
confusion  and  the  past  came  upon 
him  in  heart-stirring  glimpses. 

It  was  the  pioneer  urchin,  Fred 
Montague,  who  called  to  him  over 
a  stretch  of  sixty  years. 

"Joe,  you  ain't  mad  any  more, 
are  you?" 


J, 


A- 


.T  the  east  door  a 
stripling  of  an  usher  took  his  ticket 
which  his  friend,  the  Salt  Lake 
judge,  had  so  kindly  procured  for 
him  and  escorted  him  to  his  seat. 
He  sat  down  heavily  and  passed 
a  fine  linen  handkerchief  over  his 
brow.  He  was  still  trembling  from 
the  shock.  The  sight  of  that  face 
■had  unnerved  him  as  nothing  else 
had  done  for  years. 

He  was  aghast  now  at  his  first 
impression  when  he  had  seen  the 
face — a  mad  desire  to  vocalize  the 
name,  cry  out  across  the  turbulent 
sea  of  people,  "Fred!  Fred  Mon- 
tague, stop!  Wait  For  me!  It's 
Joe  Halsom."  But  the  old  hatred 
and  scorn  had  welled  up  just  in 
time.  The  acid  of  bitterness  etches 
deeply  in  fifty  years. 

The  old  man  looked  about  him. 


OE,  from  his  position 
on  the  top  of  a  pole  fence,  turned 
from  the  stone  bruise  he  had  been 
regarding  on  the  sole  of  his  cal- 
loused foot  and  gave  his  compan- 
ion a  look  of  withering  scorn. 

"Honest,  Joe,  you  ain't  no  right 
actin'  like  this.  You  throwed  just 
as  many  rocks  as  I  did  on  old  Pete's 
porch,  and  just  because  he  caught 
me  and  made  me  tell  who  was  with 
me  ain't  no  reason  for  you  to  quit 
speakin'  to  me  for  two  hull 
weeks." 

Joe  turned  his  back  on  the 
speaker  and  began  to  whistle. 
Through  the  corner  of  his  eye  he 
saw  that  Fred's  freckled  face  was 
pitiful. 

There  was  silence  for  a  moment 
and  then  Fred  squared  his  shoul- 
ders. 

"I've  a  darned  good  notion  not 
to  tell  you  the  biggest  piece  of 
news  you've  ever  heaxd  in  all  your 
life.  Why,  if  you  guessed  steady 
for  a  hundred  years  you  couldn't 
guess  what's  happenin'  over  at  our 
house." 

'Your  ma's  havin'  a  baby,"  he 
said   disdainfully. 

"Nothin'  the  sort.     Pa  sent  me 


Old  Judge  Halsom 


over  to  see  if  I  could  sleep  with 
you  cause  President  Brigham 
Young  is  a  goin'  to  stay  there," 

He  waited  for  that  piece  of  news 
to  sink  in  and  then  continued, 
"But  that  ain't  half.  There's  a 
hull  band  of  Injun  chiefs  there, 
tool- 
Joe  edged  a  little  closer  to  this 
harbinger  of  glad  tidings.  "Aw, 
go  on,  I  don't  believe  you." 

"It's  the  truth.  You  can  see 
the  wick-i-up  they've  pitched  in 
our  back  yard  from  the  road  over 
there." 

"Well,  what  they  doin'  there?" 
Already  Joe  was  moving  toward 
the  road. 

"President  Young  and  pa  and 
Apostle  Rich  brought  'em." 

"Say,  why  can't  you  get  in  and 
tell  a  feller  all  about  it.  Want  me 
to  bust?" 

"Well,  you  know  about  old 
Black  Hawk,  don't  you?" 

"Course  I  do.  He's  been  threat- 
enin'  to  kill  the  Saints  up  around 
Laketown." 

"Somebody  sent  word  to  Presi- 
dent Young  so  he  and  Dimick 
Huntington,  the  man  who  knows 
how  to  talk  Injun,  came  this  morn- 
ing, and  took  pa  and  the  apostle 
with  'em  and  they  went  up  and 
(Continued  on  page  5  69) 


lossom 


L 


IANCE  smiled,  re- 
calling the  words  of  Yin-Ying: 
"When  the  honorable  one  bestows 
the  flower  named  the  Spell-Binder 
upon  a  woman  then  is  love  born 
in  the  hearts  of  both  and  that  love 
remains  until  he  goes  to  the  Yel- 
low Springs  called  death.  There, 
oh,  gracious  one,  he  dreams 
through  the  years  until  she  joins 

ha 
lm. 

He  had  met  a  girl  in  Kiangsu, 
China,  when  he  was  painting  Yin- 
Ying,  the  witch-like  old  woman 
who  lived  by  gathering  and  sell- 
ing the  Spell-Binder,  a  delicate 
creeping  plant  whose  leaves  re- 
semble the  frail  fronds  of  the 
maidenhair  fern.  The  tiny  flowers 
of  pink  and  blue  and  violet  were 
lovely  but  it  was  the  rare  white 
ones  that  pleased  him  most.  Now, 
sitting  thinking  of  that  day  in 
China  he  seemed  to  smell  the  mad- 
deningly-sweet perfume  that  had 
come  to  him  when  the  American 
girl  had  crushed  the  white  flowers 
in  her  hand.  A  certain  something 
had  been  born  to  them  in  that  in- 
stant as  they  listened  to  the  grave- 
ly-spoken prophecy  as  Yin-Ying 
watched  them.  The  remembered 
perfume  brought  back  the  en- 
chanted moment  in  China  al- 
though he  was  now  in  Japan. 

LIE  had  been  able  to 
do  her  a  small  service  when  the 
tourists  were  leaving  the  glass  boat 
and  he  had  been  sure  that  she,  too, 
had  felt  the  glamor  of  the  romantic 
island.  For,  when  a  brisk,  mascu- 
line voice  had  hailed  her  and  de- 
manded to  know  the  reason  for 
her  delay  she  had  lingered.  Again 
the  man  called  her  and  begged  her 
to  hurry,  and  she  had  opened  her 
ihand,  smiled  and  then,  staring 
straightly  into  his  eyes,  lifted  the 
crushed  sweet  flowers  to  her  lips 
.and  vanished. 

"Her  name  was  Anne.  Likely 
I'll  never  see  her  again  but  I  shall 
never  forget  her  eyes.  If  I  were  a 
poet  instead  of  an  artist  I'd  rave 
of  violets  with  the  dew  lingering. 


By  LAURA  REID  MONTGOMERY 


Illustrated   by   HARRIS    WEBERG 


Anyway,  Anne  will  be  surprised 
when  she  finds  her  pretty  little  face 
laughing  out  from  some  of  my  pic- 
tures. Today  she's  a  Japanese  girl 
playing  a  flute." 

On   his  easel    was  a  picture   of 


two  boys  and  a  girl,  each  with 
curved  Japanese  flutes.  Lance  had 
made  a  study  of  prints  done  by 
Torii  Kiyonaga  who  died  in  1815 
and  who  was  a  genius  in  depicting 
scenes  from  everyday  life.  Lance's 
handling  of  the  beach  below  the 
Shinto  temple  (a  miya)  was  ex- 
cellent. The  shadows  cast  by  the 
tall  cryptomeria  tree  with  its  pine- 
like foliage  softened  the  brilliant 
turquoise  tints  of  the  girl's  satin 
while  the  translucent  enamels  of 
her  lifted  flute  gathered  and  held 
lovingly  the  rose  of  the  sunset  fall- 
ing between  the  branches. 

Above  the  sands  at  the  right  of 
the  entrance  to  the  miya  a  sitting 
fox  grinned  in  stone  and  above  him 
a  huge  dark  bird  hovered  menac- 
ingly with  downbest  talons. 

"To  Kwannon  I  make  my 
prayer,"  drifted  from  the  temple. 

L/ANCE  seized  h  i  s 
brush.  The  words  were  soft  to 
the  point  of  indistinctness  but  they 
recalled  him  to  his  work  and  to 
Japan.  No  use  longing  for  Anne. 
He  didn't  even  know  her  last  name 
but   his   quick   glance   at   her    left 


hand  had  confirmed  his  hope  that 
she  was  free. 

A  clap  of  thunder  aroused  him 
to  two  unpleasant  facts:  his  boat 
was  floating  away  on  the  jade 
waves  that  now  replaced  the  glassy 
sapphire  of  the  waters  and  the  ap- 
proaching storm  was  upon  him. 
Pelting  rain  fell  as  he  snatched  up 
his  canvas  and  ran. 

Nearing  the  smiling  stone  fox 
the  ground  stirred  beneath  his  feet. 
The  great  fish  is  stirring,  he  is  tired 
of  holding  the  universe,"  reflected 
Lance,  who  had  lately  read  the 
Japanese  myth  of  the  accommodat- 
ing vassal  of  the  sea. 

Another  tremor,  however,  dis- 
sipated his  amusement  and  he  won- 
dered if  the  temple  would  be  his 
tomb  should  an  earthquake  arrive. 

Tiny  glass  wind  bells  tinkled 
in  the  gale  that  roared  about  him 
and  he  raced  for  the  temple,  not 
forgetting  to  remove  his  low  shoes 
before  treading  the  sacred  ground. 
As  he  kicked  them  off  he  heard  the 
clink  of  coin  as  some  faithful  one 
accompanied  his  prayer  by  com- 
mercial means  and  then  a  damp 
ball  of  chewed  paper  struck  his 
outraged  cheek. 

"Disgusting,  I  call  it.  To  think 
of  chewing  a  prayer,"  he  reflected. 

"Ooh,  ooh,"  came  a  threadlike 
tone  pitched  on  a  note  of  apology. 

Through  the 

gloom  minced  a  small  figure  in  bare 
feet  that  gleamed  below  the  wide 
trousers  of  jade  and  silver.  Jewels 
twinkled  in  her  piled-up  hair  and 
laughing  eyes  peered  up  at  him 
from  dusky  lashes.  From  her  waist 
hung  a  samisen,  a  three-stringed 
instrument  and  just  behind  her 
brooded  the  great  statue  of  the 
myriad-handed  Quannon — G  o  d- 
dess  of  Mercy.  "Osura?"  she 
breathed. 

His  resentment  at  being  the 
recipient  of  her  paper-prayer  hurl- 
ed with  the  usual  feminine  lack  of 
accuracy  faded.  He  wished  now 
that  he'd  skimped  his  sketching 
long  enough  to  memorize  a  phrase 


of  Japanese.  Even  in  the 
dimness  he  admired  her 
and  felt  the  beauty  of  her 
facial  color  scheme  and 
he  longed  to  put  her  on 
canvas.  Her  painted  eye- 
brows were  etched  admir- 
ably and  her  round  cheeks 
were  twin  roses.  Memories 
stirred  again — a  certain  fragrance  .  . 
The  wind  toppled  over  a  small 
statue  and  Lance,  while  longing  to 
pose  as  a  hero,  fell  at  the  girl's  feet, 
badly  bruised. 


When  he  opened  his  eyes  she 
was  holding  a  cup  to  his  lips.  The 
sake  revived  him  somewhat  and  he 
motioned  to  her  to  drink  from 
the  second  flask  for  she  was  pallid 


Is  there  such  a  thing  as 
a  "Love  Blossom"  with 
powers  which  bind  hearts? 
Lance  would  probably — 
but  then  the  story  is  short. 
See  what  he  says. 


beneath  her  paint.  She 
hesitated  whereupon 
he  feebly  insisted  and 
with  an  odd  air  of 
recklessness  she  pour- 
ed from  the  second 
flask  which  was  at- 
tached by  the  sym- 
bolical butterflies  and 
drank. 

A  Japanese  entered 
and  frowned,  point- 
ing to  the  table  from 
which    she    had 
snatched  the  twin  flasks. 

"Tell  him  I'll  pay  for  the 
wine,"  cried  Lance,  hoping  she 
might  comprehend,  "he  isn't  your 
husband,  is  he?"  He  had  enjoyed 
the  soft  clasp  of  her  tiny  left  hand 
as  she  supported  his  head  but  now 
he  disliked  the  look  in  the  round 
black  eyes  slanting  down  at  him 
(Continued  on  page  551") 


GETTING  THE  MOST  OUT  OF 


amp  in g 

By  ELVA  MOSS  WESSEL 

Go  camping  in  imagination  before  you  go  camping  to  the 
canyon.   A  trip  like  this  may  make  your  outing  more  valuable. 


WHY  do  you  enjoy  going 
to  camp?"  I  asked  a  small 
boy  of  nine  years.  "Be- 
cause we  have  a  lot  o'  fun,"  he  re- 
plied. 

Fun  and  adventure  seem  to  be 
the  main  reasons  for  more  than  a 
million  boys  and  girls  going  to 
camp  each  summer. 

To  make  camp  life  profitable  for 
this  group  there  is  need  for  an  ef- 
fective organization,  with  com- 
petent leadership,  under  whose  di- 
rection systematic  planning  of 
programs  will  bring  new  adven- 
ture, colorful  romance  and  happy 
recreation  to  the  boys  and  girls 
from  the  first  day  in  camp  to  the 
last  good-bye. 

The  program  should  develop 
spontaneity  and  freedom  among 
the  campers,  should  be  broad  and 
inclusive  enough  to  satisfy  indi- 
vidual interests.  Usually  the  camp 
environment  is  sufficiently  rich  and 
stimulating  to  enlist  the  interest 
of  every  normal  boy  and  girl. 

VKTHILE  many  directors  glory  in 
displaying  the  elaborateness 
of  the  camp  plant  and  buildings, 
it  is  to  be  remembered  that  camps 
are  not  built  around  things.  They 
are  built  about  personalities. 
Equipment  is  essential  only  as  it 
makes  possible  a  larger  and  better 
program.  To  the  camper  it  is  the 
program  that  makes  the  camp,  and 
he  interprets  activities  in  terms  of 
fun  and  adventure.  Camp  activ- 
ities however  are  not  an  end  in 
themselves.  Their  real  importance 
is  to  provide  opportunity  for  a- 
chievement,  to  develop  self-ex- 
pression, self-reliance,  resourceful- 
ness, and  to  stimulate  creative 
ability. 

An  interesting  program  to  meet 
the  above  needs  may  be  classed  in 
three  divisions. 


Above:     Adirondack  Sleeping  Shelter 
Below:     Lean-to  With  Reflector  Fire 


First,  the  regular  routine — the 
first  call  to  arise  in  the  morning, 
the  optional  dip,  shower,  or  just  a 
refreshing  splash  of  cold  water  on 
face  and  hands,  into  airy  camp 
togs  and  ready  for  the  day's  fun. 
Flag  raising  is  followed  by  break- 
fast,   camp    improvement,    inspec- 


tion, morning  sing,  handcraft  or 
hiking,  free  time  for  letter  writing 
and  reading,  then  the  noon  meal. 
For  one  hour  or  more  the  camp 
settles  down  for  rest  period.  The 
afternoon  activities  consist  of  na- 
ture lore,  games,  swimming  or  rid- 
ing.     Supper  with  its  songs  and 


The  Improvement  Era  for  May,  1932 


535 


Corduroy  Steps 


Caveman  Golf  Equipment 


surprises  followed  by  the  evening's 
fun  is  the  time  when  campers  en- 
joy comradeship. 

COME  regular  program  must  be 
carried  on  every  day,  but  occa- 
sionally the  morning,  afternoon, 
or  else  the  entire  day  is  used  to  ad- 
vantage without  scheduled  activ- 
ities when  the  campers  have  pro- 
jects which  interest  them.  This 
second  division  is  often  referred  to 
as  the  "Do  as  you  wish"  or  "Free 
Time"  period.  This  too,  is  very 
important,  since  it  provides  time 
for  personal  interests.  A  small 
number  of  campers  may  request 
tours  to  points  of  interest;  such 
as  the  new  nature  trail,  Jenny 
wren's  nest,  the  home  of  the  wood- 
chuck,  the  spring;  along  the  way 
specimens  are  gathered  for  the  na- 
ture exhibit.  Perhaps  a  small 
group  is  interested  in  an  early 
morning  bird  identification  trip. 
Get  up  early  and  creep  out  so  as 
not  to  awaken  the  other  campers. 
Keep  your  eyes  and  ears  open.  Take 
a  pencil,  a  note  book,  and  if  pos- 
sible field  glasses  along.  Now  you 
are  all  ready  for  one  of  the  most 
fascinating  adventures  in  the 
woods.  Move  slowly  and  quietly 
along  the  path,  when  you  see  a 
bird  "Stop."  With  the  aid  of  field 
glasses  observe  -its  colorings  on 
breast,  head,  wings,  and  tail.  How 
large  is  it?  Compare  its  size  with 
other  birds  more  familiar  to  you. 
In  case  there  is  some  doubt  as  to 
its  identity  make  some  notes  and 
refer  to  your  bird  guide  later.  Lis- 
ten to  the  chorus  of  music  in  the 
tree  tops,  try  to  distinguish  the 
different  birds  by  their  song.  This 
group  will  be  delighted  with  the 
many  discoveries  which  can  be 
made  in  the  early  morning  hours. 
The  resourceful  leader  can  stim- 
ulate creative  expression  by  visual- 
izing the  camp  needs  and  begin- 
ning a  project  without  much  pre- 


tension; soon  a  number  of  camp- 
ers will  lend  a  hand  and  be  proud 
of  the  accomplishment  when  the 
job  is  finished.  Often  the  camp- 
ers desire  some  improvement  about 
the  camp  and  welcome  the  oppor- 
tunity to  build  a  project  which 
will  bring  utility  and  beautify  the 
camp  as  well.  Perhaps  you  will 
find  joy  in  the  following  projects 
and  your  camp  be  greatly  bene- 
fited by  the  results.  Construct  a 
rustic  gateway  suspending  a  sign 
to  greet  the  newcomers.  Make  wil- 
low baskets  in  which  to  plant  ferns 
or  other  native  plants  and  hang 
them  in  the  recreation  or  dining 
hall.  Make  seats  of  stone  or  logs 
around  the  camp  fire  circle  a  safe 
distance  back  from  the  fire  or  build 
the  circle  where  tree  stumps  serve 
as  seats.  A  well  built  fire  pit  will 
keep  the  ashes  from  scattering  over 
the  circle.  Arrow  shaped  signs  of 
wood  with  the  letters  burned  with 
a  sun  glass  or  pyrography  needle 
give  a  rustic  touch  to  the  nature 
trail  and  aid  the  new  camper  in 
getting  acquainted  with  his  sur- 
roundings. Cut  and  build  paths 
through  the  woods  or  blaze  new 
hiking  trails  leading  to  an  interest- 
ing look-out. 

A  CAVE  man  golf  course  using 
improvised  equipment  adds 
new  life  to  the  camp.  Lay  out 
the  general  course  preferably  along 
winding  trails,  include  natural  haz- 
ards, trees,  a  stream  or  stump. 
Then  bury  number  ten  tin  cans  in 
the  ground  at  the  distance  apart  de- 
sirable for  the  nine  hole  course. 
Use  croquet  balls  in  place  of  the 
regular  ones  and  stout  tree  branch- 
es of  considerable  size  as  golf  sticks, 
a  natural  curve  or  knot  at  the  end 
makes  a  splendid  putter.  The 
putting  space  is  cleared  a  bit  and 
the  boundary  marked  off  with 
stout  saplings  placed  on  the 
ground. 


An  out-door  cooking  oven  will 
add  flavor  to  the  food  and  less  dif- 
ficulty in  the  craft  of  outdoor 
cookery.  Boys  will  especially  be 
interested  in  building  an  adiron- 
dack  sleeping  shelter,  a  lean-to  or 
Indian  tepee  in  the  woods.  A  place 
a  short  distance  from  camp  may  be 
chosen  to  make  a  shady  retreat  or 
reading  nook.  A  rustic  seat  or 
bench  will  add  to  its  usefulness. 
A  camper  who  is  handy  with  tools 
may  build  shelves  for  exhibits  or 
a  table  and  benches  under  the  trees 
where  visiting  parents  and  friends 
can  eat  their  lunch.  Trails  about 
camp  can  always  be  improved  by 
making  corduroy  steps,  cutting  out 
over  hanging  branches,  removing 
stones,  bridging  wet  spots,  filling 
in  depressions  and  marking  trail 
inter-sections. 

In  one  camp  -a  group  made  a 
cedar  bark  wigwam,  at  the  same 
time  another  group  built  a  rustic 
roof  to  furnish  shade  for  the  rifle 
range  and  still  another  group  col- 
lected tin  cans  and  converted  them 
into  kettles  and  camp  dishes  for  the 
next  overnight  hike. 

These  projects  grow  out  of 
camp  needs  or  life  situations  in 
the  camp  group.  This  outgrowth 
of  interests  should  be  encouraged 
and  funds  kept  available  for  de- 
veloping them. 

^HERE'S  also  the  third  divi- 
sion, the  seasonal  "High  Spot," 
unusual  happening  or  special  fea- 
ture which  has  its  place  and  makes 
camp  life  more  interesting  and  ad- 
venturous. One  camp  makes  this 
report:  "We  have  tried  this  plan 
for  several  years  with  the  most 
satisfactory  results.  Every  week 
of  the  summer  has  a  name  'Covered 
Wagon  Week'  'Indian  Week,'  'Pa- 
triots Week,'  'Fiesta  Week,*  'Cir- 
cus Week,'  'Forty-niners  Week,' 
'Pioneer  Week,'  and  so  on.     Each 

(Continued  on  page  571) 


A  Prayer  For  This  Camp 


®. 


By  JOHN  T.  CAINE,  I 

"Pa  Caine" 


UR  Father: 

We  thank  Thee  for  all  the  wonders  of  Thy  creations — for  this  rugged 
canyon  with  its  mountains,  rocks  and  hills,  its  cliffs  and  precipices,  its  soil 
teeming  with  all  the  riches  of  plant  life;  for  trees  and  shrubs,  vines  and 
flowers,  for  dainty  moss  and  rugged  pines,  for  trembling  aspen,  graceful 
birch  and  gorgeous  maple;  for  sparkling  streams  and  busy  waterfalls,  for 
invigorating  air  and  warming  sun;  for  solitude  and  seclusion,  and  above 
all  for  the  suggestion  of  Thy  great  design  manifest  in  the  many  beauties 
everywhere  present;  and  for  the  spirit  pf  awe  which  the  immensity  of 
rocks  and  ravines  inspires  within  us. 

We  pray,  that  Thou  wilt  bless  this  Camp  that  in  every  way  it  may  fulfil 
its  purpose,  a  place  of  quiet,  rest  and  recreation  for  tired  bodies  or  wounded 
spirits.  May  the  feelings  inspired  by  these  scenes  be  a  rebuke  to  all  un- 
worthy thoughts  or  acts;  and  may  purity,  fieauty,  and  joy  inspire  all  to 
better  'lives,  to  a  nobler  estimate  of  our  fellowmen,  and  to  a  broader  un- 
derstanding of  iThy  great  purpose  and  a  profounder  respect  for  Thee — 
our  Father  and  our  God.    Amen. 

Note:    This   is    the  girls'   camp   in  Logan   Canyon,   but    the     prayer    might    Well    have    been    said    for    all    our    camps. 


By  E.  W.  TAYLOR 


Jerry  was  a  big  grizzly  bear  whose 
habitat    was    West    Yellowstone    and 
whose  middle  name  was  mischief 
Stringham  liked  bears  in  general 
and  Jerry  in  particular — and 
that    was   the    root    of   his 
trouble. 


Drawing  by 
Harris  Weberg 


HERE  are  just 
two  real  ways  to  make  a  fool  of 
yourself:  try  something  about 
which  you  know  nothing,  and  be 
too  soft-hearted — an  abnormal 
aesthetic.  I  was  both  soft-hearted 
and  lacking  in  experience — a  bad 
combination  when  it  comes  to 
trapping  grizzly  bears  alive  which 
was  not  what  I  was  ordered  to  do 
at  all.  I  just  did — or  tried  to. 
Bears  have  an  uncanny  sense  of 


knowing  when  they  are  unwel- 
come; and  an  even  more  acute  sense 
of  knowing  when  it  is  time  to 
clear  out  after  committing  a  nui- 
sance that  brooks  no  forgiveness. 
At  least  old  Jerry  did.  He  must 
have  been  in  touch  with  a  private 
detective  agency.  And  as  to  his 
nuisances — there  was  no  question 
there.  He  wasn't  what  you  might 
call  dangerous,  although  one  or 
two     tourists  at   the   auto    camps 


complained  of  broken  arms  and 
nipped  fingers.  But  that  could 
hardly  be  blamed  onto  Jerry,  but 
rather  to  the  carelessness  of  vain- 
glorious campers  who  took  par- 
ticular delight  in  being  photo- 
graphed with  a  real  live  bear  eat- 
ing delicacies  from  the  tips  of 
brave  fingers.  But  some  of  Jerry's 
performances  were  upon  a  larger 
order. 

One  of  Jerry's  worst  habits  was 


538 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


ripping  off  doors  of  cabins  and 
taking  up  what  you  might  call 
light  housekeeping  within,  espe- 
cially if  there  happened  to  be  any- 
thing edible  stored  upon  the 
shelves. 

Succeeding  sea- 
sons owners  were  a  little  more  par- 
ticular in  nailing  up  their  houses 
and  cabins.  But  it  did  little  good. 
Jerry  developed  into  what  I  might 
call  an  expert  in  crime. 

"I  hate  to  do  it,"  commented 
the  Supervisor  sorrowfully,  "But 
I  guess  we'll  have  to  give  him  the 
gun.  He's  destroyed  enough  prop- 
erty last  winter  to  ruin  a  dozen 
parks." 

But  then  Jerry  disappeared,  al- 
most as  if  he  had  been  warned. 
And  I  am  sure  that  no  one  had  tip- 
ped him  off.  No  Al  Capone  could 
have  been  better  protected. 

"Oh,  he'll  come  back,"  laughed 
an  old  timer  from  the  Bor/ier  coun- 
try. "Trust  old  Jerry  to  be  at 
the  garbage  dumps  just  as  soon 
as  the  tourists  start  to  flow.  He 
knows  to  a  day  when  the  hotel 
opens  up." 

But  Jerry  didn't  come. 

Such  notoriety  as  Jerry  couldn't 
hide  from  public  eye  forever.  That 
is  where  I  enter  the  story.  I  spend 
most  of  my  time  around  West  Yel- 
lowstone and  north  to  Galliton 
wrangling  dudes  and  what  ever  I 
can  find  that  is  profitable.  The 
dude  season  was  rather  poor  and  I 
was  having  difficulties  in  making 
enough  to  last  me  through  the 
winter,  which  is  what  most  of  us 
old  timers  hereabouts  try  to  do. 

Jerry  was  out  of  the  Park, 
rather  a  tactical  error  you  might 
say.  But  was  it?  He  must  have 
known  that  he  was  a  nomad  from 
now  on.  And  the  Park  is  not  big 
enough  to  hide  out  in  for  long.  I 
guess  that  to  an  unwanted  grizzly 
bear  who  had  to  get  along  in  the 
world  it  was  the  outside  or  bust. 

1  was  down  to  the  train 
to  meet  a  fellow  from  California 
who  came  up  to  get  some  fishing 
and  wild  and  woolly  life  for  a 
couple  of  weeks  when  I  met  up 
with  old  Jess  Turner,  cow  man 
and  sheep-driver. 

"Yore  just  the  feller  I'm  look- 
in'  for,"  he  roared  in  one  of  those 
old  fashioned  voices  that  can  be 
heard   a  mile  or  so. 

"Pull  in  yore  train  whistle,"  I 
advised  him.     "I  can  hear  you  easy 


with  both  ears  full  of  cotton." 

"Yore  just  the  feller  I'm  lookin' 
for.  How  busy  are  yuh?  Could 
yuh  do  a  little  job  fer  me?" 

"Depends,"  I  warned  him. 
"I'm  not  bootlegging  or  sheep- 
stealing.  What's  your  proposi- 
tion?" 

"There's  one  of  them  bars  thet 
got  loose  from  the  Park.  I  want 
yuh  tuh  get  him  'fore  he  gits  all 
my  sheep." 

My  suspicion  was  raised  right 
quick  about  that  bear. 

"What  bear  is  it?  Can't  be  old 
Jerry — can  it?  Could  it  really  be 
old  Jerry?" 

"Don't  know  his  name,"  admit- 
ted Jess.  "There's  a  fair  sized 
crowd  of  dudes  today.  I  can  re- 
member when  they  used  tuh  make 
the  trip  by  wagons." 

"I'll  bet  it's  old  Jerry,"  I  re- 
marked. "No;  can't  do  it.  I 
wouldn't  kill  old  Jerry  for  all  the 
money  in  the  world." 

"Are  yuh  crazy?  Why,  that 
bar  is  doing  more  damage  tuh  my 
sheep  than  all  the  snow  storms  in 
the  world.  Yore  a  great  hand  fer 
gettin'  next  tuh  bars  and  such. 
There  ain't  a  man  thet  I  would 
rather  see  get  that  darn  varmint 
than  yuh,  Stringham." 

"Yes;  you  old  cave  man;  I  have 
been  taking  pictures  of  wild  ani- 
mals and  things.  I  have  done  a 
little  trapping.  I  used  to  work  in 
the  Park.  But  darn  it  all,  I  couldn't 
kill  Jerry.  He's  just  like  a  good 
friend.  It  would  be  like  some  one 
asking  me  to  kill  you  for  some 
money." 


"Yuh  soft  hearted  old  woman. 
I'll  get  some  one  else  tuh  kill  the 
varmint."  Jess  was  plainly  indig- 
nant and  somewhat  amazed  that 
any  one  capable  of!  killing  the 
varmint  should  refuse,  especially 
when  he  needed  the  money. 

"Come  on,  now,"  I  urged. 
"The  old  grizzly  will  run  on  back 
to  the  Park  in  a  little  while.  Give 
him  a  break." 

"And  in  the  mean  time  he'll  be 
breakin'  me.  No;  Stringham,  I 
gotta  get  that  bar  quick.  He  killed 
off  about  ten  sheep  this  week.  I 
tried  tuh  get  him  myself,  but  he 
was  too  smart  fer  me.  And  that 
is  why  I  come  tuh  you.  What 
do  yuh  say?" 

An  idea  sailed  into  my  head 
just  like  that  by  way  of  some  In- 
dians who  were  putting  onva  dance 
in  front  of  the  curio  store.  The 
Indians  reminded  me  of  a  fellow 
who  had  a  pet  bear  that  did  tricks 
and  attracted  people  to  his  store. 
And  the  pet  bear  called  to  my  at- 
tention a  fellow  who  used  to  live 
down  there  on  Chalk  Creek,  Utah, 
that  made  a  business  out  of  trap- 
ping bears  alive  and  sending  them 
to  zoos.  The  only  element  lack- 
ing to  my  idea  was  the  necessary 
knowledge  as  to  how  bears  were 
trapped  alive. 

"I  guess  that  you  win,"  I  said 
surrendering  to  his  arguments. 
"But  I  am  going  to  take  that  bear 
alive." 

"Go  to  it,  old  timer,"  beamed 
Jess,  somehow  relieved.  But  I 
(Continued  on  page  568) 


ifyck  Garden  (Contest 

Making  a  Rock  Garden  this  summer?  Then  you'll  find 
some  helpful  hints  in  these  prize-winning  essays  on  "How  I 
Made  My  Rock  Garden."  These  were  sent  in  in  answer  to 
the  announcement  made  in  the  February  number  of  the  Im- 
provement Era.  Our  judges  decided  to  give  in  addition  to 
the  prizes  which  have  gone  forward  to  the  winners^  honorable 
mention  to  the  following  people  for  their  fine  articles  which 
space  will  not  permit  us  to  print:  L.  M.  Winon,  Logan;  G.  C. 
Crittenden^  Ogden;  and  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Smidt,  Salt  Lake  City. 

How  We  Built  a  Rock  Garden  and  What  We  Planted 

First  Prize 


(^)UR  rock  garden  ob- 
scures the  east  end  of 
a  chicken-run  and  occupies 
a  space  about  ten  feet  wide 
and  eight  feet  deep. 

We  removed  the  top 
soil  to  a  depth  of  over  two 
feet  and  put  it  aside  for 
filling  in  around  the  rocks. 
We  removed  another 
eighteen  inches  to  make 
room  for  our  drainage 
base.  Near  the  south  end 
we  dug  a  hole  four  feet 
deep  and  two  feet  across 
which  we  walled  up  with 
broken  bricks  and  covered 
with  a  piece  of  heavy  wire 
mesh.  Over  all  we  placed 
a  twelve  inch  layer  of  rub- 
ble, cobblestones,  broken 
bits  of  cement  and  tiling, 
and  over  that  four  inches  of  cinders. 

With  long,  angular  rocks  of  vari-colored  pebbled 
conglomerate  which  the  boys  brought  from  the  foot- 
hills we  built  up  a  slope  from  ground  level  on  the 


Randall  Barker,  Eagle 
Scout,  who  did  the  hard 
labor. 


south  and  east  to  between  three  and  four  feet  on  the 
west  and  north, — against  the  chicken  run  and  our 
boundary  fence,  respectively, — filling  in  with  top- 
soil  as  we  did  so.  This  gave  us  the  advocated  "sunny 
side  sloping  to  the  southeast." 

We  tilted  the  outside  rocks  slightly  downward  and 
inward  to  allow  moisture  to  drain  into  the  soil.  Each 
rock  was  buried  one-third  of  its  length.  We  ar- 
ranged them  to  appear  as  much  like  a  natural  out- 
cropping as  possible. 

We  let  it  settle  for  a  week,  soaking  it  thoroughly 
several  times  and  adding  more  soil  when  necessary. 
Along  the  west  and  north  we  planted  scarlet  runner 
beans.  Until  the  rock  plants  grew  large  enough  to 
be  effective,  we  used  fillers  of  annuals:  sweet  alyssum, 
phlox,  pansies,  California  poppies,  etc. 
^  Our  perennials  are:  rock  cress,  thrift,  bougainvillea, 
English  daisy,  harebell,  golden  moss,  ribbon  grass, 
forget-me-not,  dwarf  clove-pinks,  Rocky  Mountain 
Columbine,  Japanese  bellflowers,  hardy  primroses, 
wallflower,  summer  snow,  baby's  breath,  coral  bells, 
rockspirea,  ice  plant,  dew  plant,  wandering  Jew, 
native  ferns  and  lichen,  wild  pansies,  buttercups,  ivy, 
old  man,  lady's  slipper,  violets  and  several  others. 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Barker, 
3245  Kiesel  Ave.,  Ogden,  Utah. 


How  I  Made  My  Rock  Garden 


Second  Prize 


T] 


AHE  most  pleasure  I  have  ever  had  in  out  of  door 
life  was  that  of  making  a  rock  garden  and  bring- 
ing into  cultivation  the  flowers  of  the  mountains.  I 
built  it  along  the  drive-way  west  of  my  home  on  a 
very  irregular  line  from  three  feet  wide  at  the  lower 
end  to  about  nine  feet  at  the  upper.  The  height 
varies  from  one  to  three  and  one-half  feet.  I  built 
it  of  soft  rocks  of  many  sizes  and  colors  of  crystallite 
formations,  fossils  and  cavities. 


Richardsonii 
and    Fremontei. 

Penstemons- 
Leonardi  breri- 
folius,  evening 
primrose,  ona- 
gra  hookeii,  la- 
vauxia  p  r  i  m  i- 
veris,  canguste- 
folium,      scarlet 


Between  these  I  put 
rich  soil  and  leaf  mold  from  under  oak  brush  and 

added  more  rock,  leaving  spaces  of  numerous  shapes  gilia,   aggregata, 

and  sizes.  Jacob's    ladder, 

Mine  was  to  be  a  wild  flower  rock  garden,  so  from  occidentale,  del- 

mountains  and  canyons  on  cloudy,  rainy  days  I  gath-  phinium  scapo- 

ered  many  varieties,  among  them  were  Geraniums-  sum,  yarrow,  dogbane,  Solomon's  seal,  violets,  Sun- 


540 


The  Improvement  Era  for  May,  1932 


flowers,  and  asters.  I  studied  the 
habitat  of  each  and  placed  it  in  its 
new  home  as  near  to  that  of  its 
mountain  home  as  possible.  I 
made  a  collection  of  about  sixty 
varieties  and  will  add  many  more. 
From  early  spring,  when  dog- 
tooth violets  awaken,  until  late 
autumn  when  goldenrod  and  asters 


sway  in  the  breeze  my  garden  is  a 
spot  of  beauty.  Friends  who 
laughed  at  my  garden  when  I  was 
building  it  are  now  contributing 
with  many  new  rocks,  flowers,  and 
shells  which  they  have  gathered 
from  far  and  near. 

I  appreciate  my  association  with 
Dr.  J.  H.  Paul,  Roy  Passey,  Prof. 

My  Rock  Garden 

Third  Prize 


Orin  Biddulph,  and  our  M.  I.  A. 
Summer  Home  at  Mutual  Dell  for 
creating  within  me  a  desire  to 
know  and  appreciate  our  lovely 
mountain  flowers  that  I  now  have 
at  my  door  from  which  I  receive 
daily  inspiration  and  joy. 

Mrs.  Ora  Holman  Chipman. 

American  Fork,  Utah. 


A/I^HAT  will  emphasize 
the  lovely,  dainty 
forms  and  delicate  coloring 
of  your  flowers  more  than 
a  background  of  interest- 
ing stone? 

My  garden  has  had 
twice  the  charm  since  I 
gave  to  it  stability  by 
backing  it  with  a  wall 
delicately  hung  with  the 
purple  blossoms  and  red 
and  green  berries  of  the 
Chinese  matrimony  vine, 
myrtle,  and  ivy.  The 
lower  terraces  are  filled 
with  snowy  white  rock 
cress,  basket  of  gold,  flax 
with  its  varied  shades  of  purple, 
ribbon  grass  and  tiny  iris.  Old 
English  wall  flowers  and  hardy 
asters  seem  proud  to  have  so  firm 
a  backing. 

I  was  fortunate  in  having  an 
abrupt  rise  in  my  grounds.  I  first 
cleared  the  soil  back  to  where  I 
wanted    my   first    row    of   stones. 

How 


We  print  this  article  on  account 
of  its  spirit  even  though  it  does  not 
tell  how  to  build  a  garden. 

\XTITH  a  great  deal  of  enthu- 
siasm, and,  incidentally,  very 
little  experience,  I  set  out  in  high 
spirits  in  a  new  venture,  the  build- 
ing of  a  rock  garden. 

I  began  by  studying  seed  cata- 
logs and  landscape  magazines  most 
religiously.  My  garden  was  first 
planned  on  paper,  every  detail.  I 
preferred  erasing  to  transplanting. 
I  wrote  for  all  the  "free  advice" 
obtainable  and  talked  to  all  the 
professional  gardeners  who  would 
grant  me  audience.  I  visited  many 
gardens,  interesting,  and  otherwise. 
My  rock  garden,  however,  was  to 
be  merely  an  interesting  "nook" 
in  the  outdoor  living  room;  my 
chief  aim  in  planting  lawns,  flow- 
ers, and  shrubs  being  to  give  to 
the  home  the  appropriate  setting. 
I  realized  that  the  background  of 


Lily  Pond 

The  I  placed  them  firmly  in  an 
irregular  line.  When  this  tiny 
terrace  was  filled  with  soil  I  placed 
the  next  row  of  stones  and  con- 
tinued in  this  manner  until  my  wall 
was  some  three  feet  high.  In  the 
terraces  I  arranged  my  flowers, 
planting  those  which  require  the 
most  water  on  the  lower  levels. 


By  far  the  most  fascin- 
ating part  of  the  rock  ad- 
dition is  the  lily  pond. 
Constructed  of  rock,  held 
together  with  cement,  it  is 
two  feet  deep,  irregular  in 
shape,  with  little  pockets 
of  soil  here  and  there  that 
hold  water  hyacinths, 
water  poppies,  cat  tails, 
Japanese  arrow  head,  um- 
brella plant  and  various 
kinds  of  aquarium  moss. 
Most  lovely  of  all  is  the 
water  lily  that  is  planted 
in  a  tub  and  sunk  in  the 
center  of  the  pond.  When 
supplied  with  a  few  gold 
fish  and  snails  you  will  find  in  a 
pond  as  much  interest  as  in  your 
choicest  flowers. 

What  could  be  more  beautiful 
than    this   dainty   mirror,    broken 
only  by  flower-petal  ships. 
John  E.  Lach, 
676  Downington  Ave., 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


I  Made  My  Rock  Garden 

Honorable  Mention 


the  rock  garden  must  fit  into  the 
entire  home  grounds  picture  and 
likewise  be  a  natural  part  of  the 
vicinity  into  which  it  was  to  de- 
velop. 

The  rocks,  I  brought  from 
nearby  lava  beds, — rather  beauti- 
ful specimens,  I  thought.  Trans- 
porting them  was  indeed  an  un- 
dertaking! I  well  remember  with 
what  apparent  disgust  I  was  greet- 
ed upon  my  arrival  home  one  par- 
ticular afternoon  with  a  truck  load 
of  rocks. 

I  found  difficulty  in  determin- 
ing the  correct  setting  for  my  rock 
garden,  consequently  the  rocks  and 
piles  of  dirt  were  moved  many 
times,  My  rocks,  it  seemed,  simply 
refused  to  inherit  the  dignity  and 
austerity  of  their  ancestors!  At 
the  base  of  a  large  tree  which  over- 
hung a  natural  elevation,  my  rock 
garden  finally  began  to  grow.  I 
foraged  the  hills,   mountains,   and 


river-beds,  gathering  plants,  rocks, 
moss,  and  dwarf  shrubs.  No 
afternoon  drive  was  quite  success- 
ful unless  I  managed  by  persua- 
sion, or  strategy  to  bring  home  a 
new  rock  for  the  garden.  I  felt, 
in  fact,  that  each  day  I  must  "get 
a  little  boulder." 

Frankly,  I  shall  admit  that  all 
my  activities  in  rock  gardening 
were  "trial  and  error"  methods, 
but  my  garden  proved  to  be  a  truly 
enjoyable,  as  well  as  fairly  success- 
ful, venture.  Indeed,  I  discovered 
that  it  isn't  achievements  in  gar- 
dening that  bring  satisfaction,  it  is 
the  glorious  anticipation!  My 
garden  was  a  retreat;  I  reveled  in 
its  lovely  secrets;  here  I  found 
leisure  to  ponder  some  of  the 
mysteries  of  growth.  I  found  joy 
complete  in  having  created  a  thing 
so  rife  in  its  own  personality! 
Vernesea  M.  Nagle, 

Parker,  Idaho. 


TheStar  Spangled  n banner 


By  BERTHA  L.  STEVENSON 

'Oh,  say,  does  that  star-spangled  banner  yet  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free,  and  the  home  of  the  brave?" 


■  i":-  ■■:■:■  ■    -'■'■■.■,;.'   ■■"■:  ■ 


ON  March  4,  1931, 
"The  Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  by  an  act 
of  Congress,  became  the  of- 
ficial national  anthem  of  the 
United  States.  Marylanders 
in  Congress,  in  recognition 
of  the  song's  having  been 
written  in  Baltimore  Har- 
bor, had  sought  the  legis- 
lation for  years. 

There  were  those  in  Con- 
gress who  claimed  the  high 
notes  were  too  high,  and 
those  who  said  the  low 
notes  were  too  low,  and  still 
others  who  said  that  for 
most  American  voices  it  was 
"unsingable."  Two  so- 
pranos and  a  band  were 
brought  before  a  committee 
to  show  that  the  anthem 
could  be  sung.  Old  attend- 
ants at  the  Capitol  said  the 
hearing  was  unique  and  un- 
usual. Following  this  dem- 
onstration, the  house  and 
senate  approved  it  as  the  na- 
tional anthem,  and  the  pres- 
ident affixed  his  signature. 

Even  as  all  literature  of 
an  historical  nature  is  made 
more  interesting  if  the  inci- 
dents   connected    with    the 

writing  are  known;  so,  much  of  a  fine  harbor,  and  about  twenty 
our  early  American  poetry  is  made  minutes  ride  by  electric  car  from 
more  clear  and  inspiring  to  us  if      the  city  of  Baltimore,  stands  his- 


Above:  Cannon  ball  thrown  into  Fort  McHenry, 
by  the  British  during  the  night  of  Sept.  12,  1814. 

Below:  Church  in  Baltimore  marking  the 
birthplace  of  Francis  Scott  Key. 


we  know  the  story  settings  which 
are  back  of  it. 

JUST  as  an  individual  has  with- 
in him  a  love  of  some  spot  or 
place  or  circumstance  that  marks 
for  him  a  vital  time  of  his  life,  and 
just  as  the  heart  turns  fondly  to 
that  place  or  circumstance,  so  we, 
as  a  nation,  have  a  love  and  rev- 
erence for  those  places  and  occa- 
sions that  have  marked  an  epoch 
in  the  history  of  our  beloved 
country. 

There  are  many  places  of  inter- 
est to  the  student  of  American  his- 
tory, and  not  least  among  them 
that  one  where  our  great  patriotic 
song,  "The  Star  Spangled  Ban- 
ner," was  written.  On  the  banks 
of  Chesapeake  Bay,  where  it  forms 


toric  old  Fort  McHenry.  It  was 
from  this  fort  that  the  flag  was 
flying  when  Francis  Scott  Key  was 
inspired  to  write  his  memorable 
lines. 

Key  was  a  native  of  George- 
town, which  practically  means 
Washington.  A  lawyer  by  pro- 
fession, he  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
but  had  later  moved  to  George- 
town. A  church  now  stands  on 
the  spot  where  he  was  born,  and 
a  tablet  commemorates  the  event. 

JN  September,  1814,  America 
was  at  war  with  England.  Dr. 
Beanes,  a  friend  of  Mr.  Key's,  had 
been  made  prisoner,  and  was  a- 
board  a  vessel  of  the  British  fleet, 
then  in  Chesapeake  Bay.  It  was  the 
intention  of  the  Commander  of  the 


Fleet  to  take  Fort  McHenry, 
and  quarter  the  British 
troops  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more for  the  winter.  Mr. 
Key  was  solicited  to  seek  to 
have  his  friend  released,  and 
consented  to  do  so.  After 
obtaining  permission  from 
the  Government,  orders 
were  immediately  issued  to 
get  the  vessel  used  as  a  carte! 
in  communications  with 
the  fleet  in  the  bay,  to  make 
ready.  The  vessel  was 
"The  Minden." 

"Mr.  John  S.  Skinner,, 
who  was  agent  for  the  Gov- 
ernment for  flags  of  truce 
and  exchange  of  prisoners, 
and  who  was  well  known 
as  such  to  the  officers  of  the 
fleet,  was  directed  to  accom- 
pany Mr.  Key." 

They  met  the  fleet  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Potomac,  pre- 
paring   for    the    expedition 
against    Baltimore.       They 
were    courteously    received, 
and  Dr.  Beanes  was  released. 
But    Mr.   Key    was   at   the 
time  informed  that  neither 
he,   nor  anyone  else  would 
be    permitted    to    leave    the 
fleet    for    some    days,    and 
must  be  detained  until  the  attack 
on  Baltimore,  which  was  then  a- 
bout  to  be  made,  was  over. 

They  were  transferred  from  the 
Admiral's  ship  to  the  "Surprise," 
commanded  by  Admiral  Cock- 
rane's  son,  and  there  remained  un- 
til preparations  were  made  for  the 
landing  of  troops  to  attack  by 
land.  Mr.  Key  and  Mr.  Skinner 
were  then  sent  on  board  their  own 
vessel  with  a  guard  of  sailors  and 
marines  to  prevent  their  landing, 
and  were  anchored  in  a  position  to 
see  the  flag  of  Fort  McHenry.     ' 

CEPTEMBER  12,  1814,  the  fort 
was  attacked,  and  Mr.  Key  and 
Mr.  Skinner  witnessed  the  bom- 
bardment from  their  vessel,  watch- 
ing, all  through  the  night,  every 
shell  until  it  fell,  listening  with 
breathless  interest  to  see  if  an  ex- 
plosion followed. 


542 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


Suddenly  the  bombardment 
ceased,  and  they  did  not  know 
whether  the  fort  had  surrendered, 
or  the  attack  had  been  abandoned. 
"They  paced  the  deck,  for  the  resi- 
due of  the  night,  in  painful  sus- 
pense, watching  with  intense  anx- 
iety for  the  return  of  day,  and 
looking  every  few  minutes  at  their 
watches  to  see  how  long  they  must 
wait  for  it.  As  soon  as  it  had 
dawned,  and  before  it  was  light 
enough  to  see  objects  at  a  distance, 
their  glasses  were  turned  on  the 
fort,  uncertain  whether  they 
should  see  the  Stars  and  Stripes  or 
the  flag  of  the  enemy.  At  length 
the  light  came,  and  they  saw  'That 
our  flag  was  still  there.' 

Under  the  excitement  of  the 
time,  Francis  Key  had  sketched  a 
song.  It  was  commenced  on  the 
deck  of  the  vessel  as  he  saw  the 
enemy  ship  retreating — some  brief 
lines  or  notes  on  the  back  of  a  let- 
ter which  he  happened  to  have  in 
his  pocket.  These  he  used  as  he 
proceeded,  with  the  song,  to  call 
the  events  to  mind.  For  other 
lines  he  relied  entirely  upon  his 
memory.  He  finished  it  on  his 
way  home  in  the  boat,  and  wrote  it 
out  as  it  now  stands,  at  the  hotel 
the  night  he  reached  Baltimore. 

The  next  morning  Mr.  Key 
took  his  poem  to  Judge  Nickolson 
(a  brother-in-law)  ,  knowing  him 
to  be  a  man  of  cultivated  and 
musical  tastes,  and  asked  his  opin- 
ion of  it.  The  judge  was  so  much 
pleased  with  it  that  he  immediately 
sent  it  to  a  printer,  and  directed 
copies  to  be  struck  off  in  handbill 
form.  It  was  immediately  received 
favorably  by  the  public. 

HPHE  first  publication  of  the  song 
was  in  the  "Baltimore  Patriot," 
September  20,  1814.  Until  re- 
cently it  was  believed  to  have  been 
first  in  the  "Baltimore  American," 
September  21,  1814.  It  did  not 
appear  under  title  of  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  but  was  head- 
ed "Defence  of  Fort  McHenry," 
with  a  short  account  of  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  it  was 
written,  and  then  the  poem.  It 
was  not  until  some  time  later  that 
it  was  called  by  the  title  by  which 
it  is  now  known.  Before  very 
long  it  had  been  copied  by  papers 
as  far  south  as  Atlanta,  and  in  all 
the  larger  northern  cities. 

There  are  differences  of  opinion 
as  to  when  it  was  first  sung,  and 
by  whom,  also  as  to  whether  Mr. 


Key  intended  it  to  be  sung  by  the 
tune  we  know,  or  whether  some- 
one else  saw  that  the  rhythm  was 
the  same  and  associated  it  with  the 
music.  However,  as  a  copy  of  the 
"Baltimore  Patriot"  shows,  it 
stated  the  tune  at  the  head  of  the 
poem.  , 

The  air  is  one  which  is  supposed 
to  have  been  very  popular  at  that 
time.  It  is  one  adopted  by  a  club 
in  England,  and  written  by  John 
Stafford  Smith,  a  musician  of  that 
day.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been 
written  for  a  voice  of  very  wide 
range,  and  was  the  official  song  of 
the  club.  At  any  rate,  the  tune 
was  familiar  to  everyone,  and  with 
its  peculiar  rhythm  it  exactly  fits 
Mr.  Key's  words,  and  it  is  possible 
that  he  intended  it  to  be  used  with 
them. 

The  air  is  "Anacreon  in 
Heaven."  "Anacreon"  is  a  poem 
in  praise  of  love  and  wine,  or  love 
and  joy,  after  the  meter  of  the 
Greek  poet  Anacreon.  Transplant- 
ed on  American  soil,  this  air,  once 
popular  as  an  English  drinking 
song,  has  thrived  with  the  "Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  and  the  other 
song  has  been  forgotten. 

Most  authorities  agree  that  Mr. 
Ferdinand  Durang,  an  actor-sol- 
dier, was  the  first  to  sing  it,  and 
that  it  was  sung  in  front  of  the 
Holiday  Street  Theatre  in  Balti- 
more. 


A 


COMPANY  of  soldiers  had 
congregated  in  front  of  the 
theatre,  and  the  tavern  next  door 
to  it,  when  Captain  Edes  came 
along,  and  calling  the  group  to 
order  told  them  to  listen  to  a  pa- 
triotic song  which  had  just  been 
struck  off  the  press.  He  read  the 
words,  and  someone  suggested 
that  it  be  sung.  Durang  was  call- 
ed for,  and  mounting  on  an  old 
fashioned  rush-bottomed  chair, 
sang  for  the  first  time  in  public, 
in  our  Union,  this  song,  the  chorus 
being  echoed  by  the  crowd. 

The  song  began  to  be  known  as 
the  "Star  Spangled  Banner,"  and 
we  find  it  advertised  as  such  Janu- 
ary 6 ,  1815,  probably  the  first  mu- 
sic sheets  printed. 

A  Mr.  Walters,  of  Baltimore,  is 
supposed  to  have  the  original,  but 
as  the  poem  was  drafted  several 
times,  first  on  the  letter  and  then 
again  when  Mr.  Key  was  on  the 
boat,  the  one  in  possession  of  Mr. 
Walters  must  be  the  first  clean  cooy 
of   the    original    manuscript.      He 


bought  it  from  a  granddaughter  of 
Mr.  Key.  Mr.  Key  wrote  it  out 
several  times  for  friends,  and  those 
copies  are  still  preserved. 

TV/TANY  people  have  thought  to 
improve  the  song,  and  changes 
have  been  made,  but  these  changes 
have  not  been  considered  good, 
and  so  have  not  stood.  They  take 
away  the  writer's  spirit  and  change 
the  thought,  and  we  wish  it  to  re- 
main as  it  was  written.  It  has  been 
altered  by  different  people  in  dif- 
ferent ways,  but  these  alterations 
actually  change  the  meaning  in 
some  instances.  For  example 
"Half  conceals,  half  discloses," 
changed  to  "Now  conceals,  now 
discloses,"  and  we  have  taken  away 
that  fine  image  of  the  flag  floating 
in  the  breeze  at  dawn. 

One  Briton  has  added  this  fine 
stanza: 

"But  hushed  be  the  strain  they  our  foes 

are  no  longer, 
To  Britain  the  right  hand  of  friendship 

extends, 
And  Albion's  fair  Isle   we  behold   with 

affection, 
The   land   of   our  Fathers — the   land   of 

our  Friends. 
Long,    long   may    we    flourish   Columbia 

and  Britain 
In    amity    still    may    your    children    be 

found, 
And  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  and  Red 

Cross  together 
Wave     free    and     triumphant     the     wide 

world  around." 

npHE  STAR  SPANGLED  BAN- 
NER" has  been  slow  to  grow 
in  popularity.  Opinions  differ  as 
to  its  merits.  Some  look  upon  the 
lines  as  inspired;  some  regard  it  as 
purely  a  military  or  flag  song. 
Some  criticise  the  tune;  but  it  will 
remain  with  the  American  people. 

It  became  popular  during  the 
Civil  War,  and  again  during  the 
war  with  Spain,  but  during  the 
World  War  it  came  to  mean  more 
than  ever  before.  In  the  past  its 
meaning  had  been  to  the  American 
alone;  today  it  stands  for  right  and 
justice  toward  all  nations. 

Years  ago  Army  and  Navy 
regulations  designated  the  "Star 
Spangled  Banner"  as  the  official 
anthem,  and  officers  and  men  stand 
at  attention  while  it  is  being  ren- 
dered. 

Today  millions  bow  the  head 
as  they  rise  to  the  strains  of  the 
"Star  Spangled  Banner,"  and  mil- 
lions of  hearts  send  up  a  prayer  to 
the  Maker  for  the  protection  of 
those  who  are  striving  to  see  "that 
our  flag  is  still  there." 


Illustrated 
By 

F.  K.  Smith 


Navaj  o 


and 


Pioneer 


Oft  tends 


By 


Joseph  B.  Harris 


Many  lasting  friendships  be- 
tween white  men  and  Indians 
were  formed  during  Utah's  pio- 
neer period.  In  this  story  the 
reader  may  catch  a  glimpse  of  a 
most  beautiful  one. 


A  FEW  years  ago  a  group  of  citi- 
zens of  two  neighboring  states 
were  observing  the  formalities  of 
an  introduction  when  I  noticed  an  or- 
dinary Navajo  Indian  approaching. 
Presently  a  man — Kumen  Jones — left 
the  crowd  and  walked  out  a  few  yards 
until  the  two  met.  Like  long  lost  broth- 
ers they  threw  their  arms  around  each 
other  and  tears  streamed  down  their 
cheeks  as  they  hugged  each  other. 

That  little  picture,  which  I  am  not 
adequately  able  to  describe,  made  a  last- 
ing impression  upon  me.     The  one,  a 


544 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


man  grown  venerable  with  the  ex- 
perience of  many  years  of  the  finest 
type  of  service — scout,  pioneer, 
rancher,  bishop,  patriarch — whose 
simple  dignity  and  lofty  idealism 
mark  him  as  a  man  among  men; 
the  other  tall,  lithe,  manly,  self-re- 
specting, with  a  kindly  smile  and  a 
penetrating  eye,  evidently  highly 
respected  among  his  own  people. 

l-JE  was  clad  in  the  garb  of  his 
tribe,  and  had  other  distin- 
guishing characteristics  also.  Out 
there  in  the  solitude  of  the  desert 
where  these  two  lives  had  run  to- 
gether in  the  days  of  their  youth, 
that  salutation — that  embrace — of 
these  gray-haired  veterans  of  two 
different  races  marked  an  epoch  in 
my  life,  for  I  felt  that  I  had  wit- 
nessed something  apart,  something 
sacred;  that  I  had  stumbled  on  to 
a  kind  of  holy  ground. 

Filled  with  curiosity  at  a  sight 
which  seemed  so  strange,  I  asked 
for  an  explanation  from  Kumen 
Jones. 

With  eyes  glistening  and  lips 
quivering  he  replied:  "Brother  Jo- 
seph— red  or  white — God  never 
made  a  finer  man  than  that.  That 
is  Nattancy-yazzy." 

Then  from  Kumen  Jones  I  had 
the  following  story: 

"In  company  with  two  other 
scouts,  an  interpreter  and  guide,  we 
left  Moencopy,  which  is  about  two 
miles  south  of  what  is  now  Tuba 
City,  Arizona,  May  10,  1879. 
Leaving  civilization  behind  we 
took  a  northeasterly  trail  across  the 
Navajo  Reservation,  heading  for 
the  San  Juan  River.  Our  main 
company  of  scouts  were  left  at 
Moencopy." 

QEOGRAPHICALLY  the  coun- 
try  was  low  table  land  cut 
through  with  deep,  rugged  can- 
yons. It  was  wild  and  remote,  and 
so  far  as  civilization  was  concerned 
it  was  desolate  and  empty. 

May  of  1879,  nearly  fifty-four 
years  ago,  when  President  Brigham 
Young  was  aiming  to  plant  a  col- 
ony on  the  San  Juan  River  as  a 
protection  to  the  out-lying  settle- 
ments of  south-eastern  Utah 
against  the  hostile  Navajo  Indians, 
was  a  long  while  ago. 

Many  white  men  had  lost  their 
lives  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood because  of  Indian  antagonism 
and  hostility.  To  travel  under 
any  circumstances  was  a  risk,  but 
for  a  lad  of  twenty  years,  alone 
and  a  stranger  to  every  inch  of  the 
country  would  make  it  doubly 
hazardous. 


yiSUALIZE  if  you  will  the 
weary  miles  of  sand  and  cactus 
and  nothing  living  but  an  occa- 
sional coyote  or  a  bird  of  prey  to 
break  the  monotony,  and,  behind 
every  hill,  the  possibility  of — hos- 
tile Indians. 

'The  second  night  out,  "Mr. 
Jones  continues,  "I  received  my 
first  lesson  in  the  Navajo  language. 

"We  camped  near  a  Navajo 
hogan,  and  after  supper  three  lit- 
tle girls,  ranging  from  four  to  nine 


Western  Echoes 

By  John  Sherman  Walker 
THE  WEST  PRIMEVAL 

A  N  eerie  whisper  as  cruel  deaths  move 
**         In  the  desert, 

As  scorpion  crawls — 
As   Gila   monster  and   rattler   groove 

Through  the  dry  dirt — 

A  far  wolf  calls; 
A  thundering  flash  and  the  sweeping  lash 

Of  the  late  rains 

On  grama-grass 
The   rumble   of  hooves   and    a    dull   horn 
clash 

O'er  the  great  plains 

When  bison  pass. 
The  scurry  and  pat  of  muffled  feet 

Out  the  forest — - 

The  rush  of  stream, 
An  elfin  ripple  as  speckled  trout 

Leaps  the  foam  crest 

'Neath  gold  moonbeam; 
The  hollow  echo  of  falling  cone 

Near  the  pine  tree 

The  creak  of  limb — 
The  mellow  croon  of  an  Indian  tone 

Coming  carefree 

From  blue  lake's  rirn 

CONQUEST 

^7  HE    straining    grumble    of    ponderous 
■*  wheels 

Sinking  lowly 

In  virgin  loam — 
Staccato  ring  of  a  steel  axe-blade 

Winning  slowly 

The  pioneer's  home; 
Tense,    labored  sweep   of   rider   and   horse 

Racing  westward 

O'er  gruelling  trails 
Bearing  determined  from  distant  points 

To  the  eastward 

All  precious  mails ; 
Persistent  rasp  of  the  pick  and  spade 

On  the  hard  shales — - 

Through  stone  ribbed  soil 
Raw  guttural  hum  of  brawny  men 

Placing  long  rails 

In  ceaseless  toil, 
Majestic  mumble  of  monster  craft 

Stately  rolling 

In  hissing  pride 
Frontierward  amid  a  sobbing  moan 

And  a  tolling 

'Cross  prairies  wide; 
Hoarse  cheer  from  trapper,  bronzed  lum- 
ber-jack 

And  the  miner — 

A  plainsman's  prayer; 
Terse   mill-wheel's   buzz   and   the   soaring 
zoom 

Of  winged  liner 

Cleaving  the  air. 


years  of  age  came  into  camp.  The 
cook  gave  each  of  the  children  a 
piece  of  flap-jack  with  a  slice  of 
bacon  on  it.  They  each  ate  their 
bread  but  still  held  the  bacon,  and 
when  they  noticed  us  talking  about 
their  not  eating  the  bacon,  the  eld- 
est one  held  the  meat  up  and  gave 
a  grunt  like  a  pig. 

"We  wondered  if  they  had 
brought  that  tradition  down  from 
their  forefathers  (the  Hebrews) , 
from  another  continent." 

"From  our  guide  we  learned 
how  to  speak  the  names  of  differ- 
ent items  about  the  camp.  It  was 
apparently  something  new  for  the 
little  Navajo  girls  to  have  the 
honor  of  being  teachers  to  the 
white  strangers.  They  were  re- 
luctant to  leave  our  camp. 

"When  the  parents  came  after  the 
children  and  noted  the  situation, 
they  entered  into  the  spirit  of  it, 
too.  Out  of  this  insignificant  in- 
cident I  received  a  lesson  that  has 
been  of  service  to  me  in  my  ex- 
periences with  all  kinds  of  Indians. 
Take  notice  of  and  be  kind  to  the 
children  and  parents  will  generally 
fall  into  line. 

\X7"E  pursued  our  journey  until 
we  came  in  sight  of  the  San 
Juan  River,  about  ten  miles  dis- 
tant, when  it  was  decided  that  I 
should  return  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  fifty  miles  to  Moencopy 
and  start  the  company  with  the 
wagons  on  the  trail. 

"That  day  I  made  a  full  fifty  mile 
ride  through  the  Indian  country. 
As  I  rode  along  I  recalled  what  our 
venerable  Indian  Missionary  and 
friend,  Thales  H.  Haskel,  told  our 
folks  at  home  in  Iron  County  some 
years  previously,  that  the  best  bet 
when  traveling  among  Indians  was 
to  place  your  confidence  in  their 
friendship,  and  camp  with  them. 
So  I  decided  to  camp  at  the  home 
of  some  Indians — entire  strangers 
to  me,  and  possibly  unfriendly. 

"When  I  drew  up  to  their  camp 
the  man  was  not  at  home  so  I  tied 
my  horses  up  and  awaited  his  re- 
turn. His  wife  said  he  would  be 
home  soon;  that  is  she  made  signs 
to  get  this  over  to  me. 

"She  went  out  and  killed  a  big, 
fat  lamb.  She  was  careful  to  have 
her  cooking  utensils  very  clean  and 
she  washed  her  hands  with  as  much 
circumspection  as  any  cook  would 
do,  and  I  acknowledge  here  to  an 
ungrateful  trick,  for  which  I  have 
ever  since  been  ashamed.  It  was 
just    a    finnkky,    senseless    notion 

(Continued  on  page  551) 


The  Peace  Pipe 


and  the 


Book  of  Mormon 


By 

Pearl  Spencer 


&£££§§ia^$&&^ 


THERE  is  no  Indian  legend 
more  interesting  nor  sig- 
nificant in  view  of  Book  of 
Mormon  history  than  that  of  the 
origin  of  the  peace  pipe.  The  use 
of  the  peace  pipe  is  a  custom  com- 
mon to  almost  every  tribe,  and  its 
origin  is  recalled  in  the  legend 
which  is  always  told  visitors  to 
the  famous  pipestone  quarries  at 
Pipestone,  Minnesota,  and  which 
is  recalled  so  vividly  in  "Hia- 
watha." For  there,  the  story  goes, 
the  Great  Spirit  descended  in  an- 
cient days,  and  there  called  the  In- 
dian nations  together. 

There,  standing  on  the  preci- 
pice of  red  rock,  with  all  the  awed 
and  silent  tribes  before  him,  he 
talked  long  to  them.  Then  he 
broke  off  a  piece  of  rock,  from 
which  he  made  a  huge  pipe.  This 
he  smoked  over  them,  telling  them 
that  the  pipe  stone  was  red,  even 
as  his  flesh  and  theirs — that  it  be- 
longed to  them  all  and  that  it 
should  be  to  them  a  symbol  of 
Him  and  of  peace  with  one  an- 
other— that  the  war  club  and 
scalping  knife  should  no  more  be 
used  upon  this  holy  ground. 

V\/"ITH  the  last  whiff  of  his  pipe, 
his  head  disappeared  into  a 
cloud,  and  the  whole  surface  of  the 
rock  for  several  miles  was  glazed; 
two  great  ovens  were  opened  be- 
neath and  two  women  (guardian 
spirits  of  the  place)  entered  them 
and  are  there  yet  to  answer  the  in- 
vocations of  the  medicine  men  who 
still  come  to  this  sacred  place  to 
consult  them. 

Now  recall  the  story  of  Christ's 
appearance  to  the  Nephites  as  re- 


corded in  the  Third  Book  of  Ne- 
phi.  You  remember  how  the  mul- 
titude gathered  before  Him,  sat  at 
His  feet,  listened,  and  partook  of 
bread  and  wine  in  memory  of  Him 


Here  is  a  bit  of  speculation 
which  may  or  may  not  be  in- 
teresting— according  to  the 
bent  of  the  readers  mind. 
People  generally  are  prone  to 
set  too  much  store  by  evidence 
which  seems  to  support  a 
favored  belief.  However^ 
speculation  is  an  interesting 
and  not  very  dangerous  pas- 
time so  long  as  one  recognizes 
it  as  speculation: — Ed. 


and;  His  commandments.  "And 
this' ye  shall  always  observe  to  do." 
He  said,  "in  remembrance  of  My 
body  .  .  .  and  ye  shall  always  have 
my  Spirit  to  be  with  you  .  .  .  and 
blessed  are  you  if  ye  have  no  dis- 
putations among  you,"  and  so  on 
through  those  awe-inspiring  words, 
until  there  came  a  cloud  .  .  .  and 
while  they  were  overshadowed  He 
ascended  into  heaven." 

And  the  next  day,  the  record 
tells,  as  the  disciples  were  baptiz- 
ing, "they  were  encircled  about  as 
if  it  were  by  fire  .  .  .  and  angels 
did  come  down  out  of  heaven  and 
did  minister  unto  them." 


TPHE  process  by  which  the  first 
long  and  beautiful  record  has 
become  condensed  into  the  legend 
of  the  peace  pipe  surely  follows  ex- 
actly the  process  of  dramatization 
and  coloring  which  can  be  traced 
in  every  legend  whose  origin  we 
know.  Surprisingly  accurate  is 
the  cloud  which  covered  the  Great 
Spirit's  head;  what  more  natural 
than  that  the  ring  of  fire  should 
become  the  phenomenon  of  the 
molten  rock;  the  apostles,  especial- 
ly the  three  who  were  not  to  taste 
of  death,  the  guardian  spirits  who 
still  guard  the  quarries  and  inspire; 
the  bread  and  water  changed 
through  these  thousand  years,  to 
the  pipe,  never  more  to  the  Indians 
than  a  sacred  ceremonial  of  peace 
and  brotherly  love. 

Surely,  He  whom  the  world  has 
known  as  the  Prince  of  Peace,  left 
his  message  deeply  impressed  upon 
this  continent,  even  though  he 
spent  but  a  few  days  upon  it.  And 
when  we  think  of  the  wars  which 
have  torn  the  Christian  nations, 
who  have  fought  against  each  other 
in  His  name  with  His  plainly  writ- 
ten Word  in  one  hand  and  a  sword 
in  the  other,  we  feel  that  these  La- 
manites,  without  records  for  a 
thousand  years,  have  not  illy  crys- 
tallized His  message  in  the  beauti- 
ful old  record  of  the  peace  pipe, 
nor  even,  so  far  as  their  knowledge 
has  gone,  been  far  behind  us  in  the 
observance  of  its  spirit.  And  cer- 
tainly they  have  carried  down  to 
us  in  sacred  legend,  one  of  our 
most  striking,  convincing  corrobo- 
rations of  their  early,  sacred  his- 
tory, The  Book  of  Mormon. 


THE  MAGIC  HIGHWAY  TO  THE 

(Silent  (s)  tty 


By  EDNA  I.  ASMUS 


Illustrations  by  the  Author 


DO  you  remember  when 
Alice,  in  the  wonderland 
of  her  fascinating  adven- 
tures, exclaimed  earnestly  to  the 
Tiger-lily  waving  gracefully  on 
the  wind:  "O  Tiger-lily,  I  wish 
you  could  talk!"  And  the  Tiger- 
lily  replied:  "We  can  talk  when 
there's  anybody  worth  talking  to." 

Well — if  you  are  worth  talking 
to,  that  is  if  you  find  "tongues  in 
trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks 
and  sermons  in  stones,"  there  is  a 
1  i  1 1 1  e-k  n  o  w  n  wonderland  of 
unique  adventure  awaiting  you 
where  stupendous  canyons  and 
vast  chasms  will  tell  you  an  age- 
less story  of  unimaginable  beauty. 

Older  than  time,  this  wonder- 
land of  which  I  speak  is  America's 
newest  vacationland.  It  lies  in  the 
southwestern  corner  of  Utah,  ex- 
tends down  into  the  northwestern 
part  of  Arizona  and  includes  the 
three  national  parks  of  Zion, 
Grand  and  Bryce  Canyons,  Cedar 
Breaks  and  the  Kaibab  National 
Forest. 

P)UE  to  the  peculiar  Cyclopean 

descent  of  this  land  from  high 
plateaus  of  11,000  feet  elevation 
to  3,000  feet  at  the  Virgin  River, 
and  the  gentle  ascent  to  the  colos- 
sal arch  of  the  Kaibab  Plateau  at 
nine  thousand  (9,000)  feet,  this 
far-flung  frontier  region  with  its 
Titanic  terraces,  palisaded  plateaus, 
flaming  canyons  and  richly  sculp- 
tured amphitheatres  cut  from  col- 
orful rock  layers,  affords  a  scenic 
spectacle  unsurpassed. 

Furthermore,  this  little-known 
land  is  just  emerging  from  the  pio- 
neer stage.  It  is  not  long  since  the 
Mormon  forts  along  the  road  you 
travel  repelled  Indian  attacks.  It 
is  not  far  to  the  fastnesses  where 
cougars  come  forth  to  prey  on  the 
deer.  The  memory  of  "Butch" 
Cassidy,  notorious  bandit,  robber, 
horse  and  cattle  thief,  who  made 
his  last  stand  against  the  law  be- 
hind the  ramparts  of  Red  Canyon, 
is  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the 


The  Roman  Soldier  of  Red  Canyon 
guarding  the  road  to  the  Silent  City, 
Utah. 


natives.  And  on  the  edge  of  the 
plains  and  in  many  a  secluded  can- 
yon are  the  ruins  of  primitive 
dwellings  overhung  with  mystery; 
while  in  the  ageless  Silent  City 
itself,  there  are  roads  still  to  be 
built,  trails  still  to  be  broken. 

Here,  from  June  first  to  Octo- 
ber first,  is  to  be  seen  a  vast  myste- 
rious land  of  purple  sage  and  em- 
purpled distances,  of  fantastic  rocks 
vivid  with  color,  of  sun-magic  and 
the  wizardry  of  wind  and  water. 

Now  there  are  two  ways  of 
reaching  Cedar  City,  Utah,  the 
Gateway  to  this  vacationland.  One 
is  by  train,  via  the  Union  Pacific: 
the  other  is  by  motor.  Once  hav- 
ing reached  Cedar  City,  however, 
there  is  only  one  way  to  the  Parks, 
and  that  is  over  the  magic  high- 
way by  motor. 

WHY  do  I  call  it  the  "magic 

highway?"     Because  it  not 

only    leads    you    to    a    world    of 

unique    grandeur,    but  because    in 


itself  it  is  a  remarkable  example  of 
superb  road  building  under  the 
most  difficult  conditions. 

To  take  the  train  as  we  did 
seems  on  the  whole  the  ideal  ar- 
rangement. For  from  the  moment 
you  leave  the  home  town,  you  are 
traveling  under  escort,  and  all  ar- 
rangements for  the  complete  tour 
of  the  Parks- — a  motor  trip  of  al- 
most 500  miles — including  all  res- 
ervations, meals,  tickets,  baggage, 
etc.,  are  handled  expertly  by  the 
tour's  escort.  All  you  need  attend 
to  is  your  own  pleasure! 

Arrived  at  Cedar  City  by  train, 
you  are  assigned  a  seat  in  one  of 
the  comfortable,  smooth-riding 
giant  motor  buses  and  introduced 
to  your  "gear-jammer"  (Chauf- 
feur) with  whom  you  ride 
throughout  the  entire  tour  unless 
you  choose,  as  we  did,  to  tarry 
longer  at  one  or  more  of  the  Parks. 
And  let  me  add  right  here  that  for 
expert  driving  on  roads  that  de- 
mand the  utmost  skill  and  mental 
alertness,  for  refinement,  intelli- 
gence and  charm,  I  have  never  met 
the  equal  of  the  "gear-jammers"  in 
the  Southern  Utah  Parks! 

The  accommodations  throughout 
the  Parks  are  excellent.  Zion  Lodge 
is  65  miles  from  Cedar  City,  the 
nearest  railway  station.  Bryce 
Canyon  Lodge  is  more  than  86 
miles,  and  Grand  Canyon  Lodge 
at  the  north  rim  of  the  Grand  Can- 
yon is  185  miles  from  Cedar  City. 
Yet  in  this  virgin  wilderness  the 
food  and  lodging  are  what  you'd 
have  a  right  to  expect  only  at 
home! 

Another  outstanding  feature  at 
the  Lodges  is  the  lectures  given 
nightly  by  government  naturalists, 
and  scientists.  Your  understanding 
and  appreciation  of  this  country  is 
augmented  greatly  by  these  talks 
on  its  geologic  and  natural  history. 

t^OR  variety  of  scenery  and  the 
cumulative  effect  of  its  magni- 
ficence, I  know  of  no  other  region 
of  similar  extent  equal  to  this  par- 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


547 


The  Great  White 
Throne  from  the 
Temple  of  Sinawava. 

ticular  section  of  the  southwest. 
From  the  moment  you  leave  ver- 
million-hued  Cedar  City  for  Zion 
on  the  first  lap  of  the  500-mile 
tour,  you  are  attracted  by  the  ever- 
changing  and  increasingly  awe-in- 
spiring landscape. 

Red  wastes  .  .  .  vast  stretches  of 
purple  sage  .  .  .  pine-clad  slopes 
.  .  .  black  undulating  stretches  of 
lichened  lava  flows  overgrown 
with  prickly  pears,  pin-cushion 
cacti,  yucca  and  torchweed  .  .  .  sub- 
tropical regions  lush  with  green 
and  growing  things  .  .  .  picturesque 
communities  shaded  by  whisper- 
ing poplars  .  .  .  blue  distances 
evolving  into  an  endless  array  of 
marching  mountains,  tawny,  red, 
rose  and  gray  .  .  .  and  finally,  that 
tremendous  tinted  temple  of  stone, 
West  Temple  of  the  Virgin,  rising 
before  you  at  the  Gates  of  Zion! 

As  for  Zion  itself — I  can  only 
suggest  the  spectacle  that  awaits 
you.  For  it  is  not  only  its  forma- 
tion— deep  and  narrow  with  walls 
4,000  feet  high,  but  its  color — 
many  shades  of  rich  red  and  the 
white  of  alabaster  streaming  from 
its  dizzy  heights  to  its  floor  of 
vivid  green  interlaced  with  the  sil- 
ver of  the  stream,  that  makes  it  so 
magnificent  a  sight.  And  deep  in 
the  canyon,  Zion  Lodge  sprawls 
against  a  warm  east  wall  like  a 
great  sleepy  cat. 

XTOT  too  many  days  can  be 
spent  here,  swimming  in  the 
outdoor  pool,  climbing  Lady 
Mountain,  riding  along  the  rim  on 
horseback  and  exploring  the  Tem- 
ple of  Sinawava  and  the  Narrows 
particularly  remarkable  for  its 
■  vegetation  which  varies  from  the 
sub-tropical  to  that  of  north  tem- 
perate climes. 

The  trip  from  Zion  to  Grand 


Bryce  Canyon,  Utah. 


Canyon  is  a  still  greater  adventure. 
After  leaving  the  floor  of  Zion 
Canyon,  the  new  Mt.  Carmel 
Highway,  one  of  the  most  spec- 
tacular engineering  feats  ever  un- 
dertaken, loops  and  zigzags  up 
Pine  Canyon  until  it  reaches  the 
first  great  cliff  of  Zion,  1,200  feet 
high.  There  it  enters  a  tunnel 
more  than  a  mile  long,  within  and 
paralleling  the  face  of  the  preci- 
pice. Six  great  windows  are  cut 
from  the  tunnel  walls,  disclosing 
vistas  of  tremendous  majesty. 

Out  again  in -the  sunshine  .  .  . 
new  aspects  of  the  temples  of 
Zion  .  .  .  the  almost  ethereal  beauty 
of  the  Vermilion  Cliffs  stretching 
across  the  distances  .  .  .  the  Pris- 
matic Plains,  alive  with  dusty 
dancers  gyrating  among  the  brush 
.  .  .  the  immense  blue  arch  of  the 
Kaibab  Plateau  ...  up  and  up,  a 
world  of  rainbow  color  ...  up  and 
up,  a  world  of  illimitable  cool, 
green  shade. 

In  the  Kaibab  Forest,  the  largest 
yellow  pine  forest  in  the  world, 
you  see  large-eyed  deer  peering  at 
you  from  a  covert  of  trees,  sudden 
flashes  of  white  as  white-tailed 
squirrels  scurry  deeper  into  the  for- 
est at  the  sound  of  the  motor,  and 
sylvan  meadows,  green-swarded 
treeless  open  spaces  bordered  by 
silver-boled  quivering  aspens. 

And  almost  without  warning 
you  reach  Grand  Canyon  Lodge, 
cunningly  built  on  the  very  brink 
of  the  north  rim  of  the  Grand 
Canyon,  6,000  feet  above  the 
mighty  Colorado  River. 

THE  Grand  Canyon!  "The  Di- 
vine Abyss."  John  Burroughs 
railed  it.  adding:  "It  seems  as 
much  of  heaven  as  of  earth  ...  it 
is  more  like  a  vision,  so  foreign  is 
it  to  all  other  terrestrial  spectacles, 


The  Watching  Gods 


and  so  surpassingly  beautiful."  It 
presents  a  wildness  so  cosmic  and 
primeval  that  the  human  "mind 
staggers  under  the  impact! 

To  stay  there  forever!  That's 
what  you'll  want  to  do.  But  you 
won't,  for  you  have  heard  that 
there  is  something  even  more  ex- 
ceptional awaiting  you.  So  you'll 
ride  back  through  the  fragrant 
Kaibab  .  .  .  through  the  Vermilion 
Cliffs  .  .  .  across  dunes  of  pink  sand 
down  to  the  canyon  of  Parunu- 
weap  .  .  .  along  the  Sevier  River 
into  Red  Canyon  with  its  rich  red 
turrets  and  towers  .  .  .  out  upon 
the  level  surfaces  of  a  plateau  to 
Bryce  Canyon  Lodge. 

A  walk  of  about  200  yards 
from  the  Lodge  will  take  you  to 
the  rim  of  Bryce  Canyon.  And 
there — rising  from  1,000  feet  be- 
low, stands  the  Silent  City,  the 
most  astonishing  blend  of  ex- 
quisite beauty  and  grotesque 
grandeur  ever  produced  by  the 
forces  of  erosion.  It  resembles 
many  things — a  playground  for 
the  fairies.  But  perhaps  its  best 
likeness  is  to  the  city  of  Babylon 
or  Persepolis  still  standing  in  silent 
glory.  The  prevailing  colors  of 
this  iridescent  basin  crowded  with 
"frozen  life"  are  pink,  coral,  red, 
orange,  yellow,  white  and  purple 
with  hundreds  of  subtle  intermedi- 
ate hues  and  tints. 

Without  taxing  the  imagina- 
tion, you  can  see  all  sorts  of  build- 
ings— castles,  cathedrals,  towers, 
bridges;  all  sorts  of  people — gi- 
ants, gnomes,  priests,  soldiers, 
queens  and  common  folk.  Even 
the  animal  kingdom  is  well  repre- 
sented! 

nPHE   Silent   City    (Bryce   Can- 
yon )  is  perhaps  the  most  gorge - 
(Continued  on  page  551) 


"/  made  a  beeline  for  Trinity  Church, 
which  towers  above  the  far-famed  Avon." 


cy?  J\ainy  Ua] 

in  ,        , 

Shakespeare'slown 


LULLED  to  repose  by  the 
music  of  the  sweetly  flow- 
ing river,  Stratford-on- 
Avon  dozes  through  the  summer 
days,  apparently  conscious  of  the 
distinction  that  has  come  to  it 
through  the  name  of  Shakespeare 
and  quite  indifferent  as  to  whether 
it  wins  additional  fame  or  not. 
For  it  the  name  of  Shakespeare  is 
sufficient.  Here  he  first  saw  the 
light  of  day;  here  he  grew  to  man- 
hood; from  here  he  went  forth  to 
win  renown;  to  this  quiet  spot 
he  returned  when  he  had  gained 
distinction  in  the  busiest  capital  of 
the  world. 

It  was  on  a  rainy  morning  that 


By 


George  F.  Paul 


Who  wouldn't  brave 
the  rain  to  spend  a  day 
on  the  spot  made  forever 
memorable  by  William 
Shakespeare?  Mr.  Paul 
talks  lightly y  yet  sympa- 
thetically of  his  visit. 


I  made  the  trip  out  from  London 
to  Stratford  town.  I  shared  a 
crowded  compartment  on  the  train 
with  a  hungry  boy.  He  should 
have  checked  his  appetite  or  paid 
an  extra  fare  for  it.  He  worked  for 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  consum- 
ing his  lunch,  which  entered  a 
yawning  aperture  like  the  Mam- 
moth Cave. 

The  train  dumped  me  out  in 
a  lively  rain,  which  sprinkled  me 
as  I  executed  a  lively  minuet  from 
one  souvenir  stand  to  the  other. 
Worst  of  all,  I  had  no  umbrella 
with  me,  and  here  I  was  in  Strat- 
ford town  with  half  a  dozen 
moves  to  make  on  the  sight-seeing 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


549 


map  and  with  the  rain,  the  wet 
rain,  trickling  its  friendly  English 
way  down  my  American  back. 

Then,  too,  the  mud  puddles 
grew  very  friendly,  and  insisted 
on  throwing  muddy  souvenirs  up- 
on me.  In  such  a  dribbling  state 
did  I  reach  Shakespeare's  birth- 
place that  I  halted  several  seconds 
on  the  very  threshold  to  wring  out 
the  water  from  my  dripping  self. 
I  also  waited  several  additional 
seconds  because  the  door  would 
not  open  at  the  sound  of  the 
clapper,  but  needs  must  be 
attended  to  by  a  blowsy 
Briton.  The  door  creaked, 
the  Briton  bowed,  and  in  I 
walked. 

"^"O  sooner  had  I  entered 
than  at  the  suggestion 
of  the  custodian  I  seated  my- 
self in  the  ingle  nook,  no 
doubt  where  the  great  poet 
himself  sat  many  a  time  three 
hundred  years  ago  and  gazed 
at  fantastic  pictures  among 
the  crackling  logs.  I  must 
confess,  however,  that  I  felt 
no  poetic  sensations.  No 
sweet  music  lulled  my  senses; 
no  weird  figures  stirred  my 
fancies;  yet  if  a  cup  of  steam- 
ing chocolate  had  been  hand- 
ed me  in  that  ingle  nook, 
what  a  feeling  of  content- 
ment would  surely  have 
crept  over  me! 

Other  pilgrims  were  wait- 
ing to  sit  in  the  same  spot 
that  had  now  held  Shake- 
speare and  myself;  so  I  arose 
and  mounted  the  stairs  to 
look  upon  the  room  wherein 


armed,  he  was  ready  at  a  moment's 
notice  to  engrave  his  name  and 
go  staring  down  the  ages  with 
C.  Fickens,  W.  Scott,  G.  G.  Byron 
and  other  notables.  Usually  the 
visitor  tries  to  place  his  autograph 
in  some  convenient  spot  where, 
in  case  of  fire,  it  could  be  rescued 
at  the  first  alarm.  As  soon  as  the 
fire  broke  out,  all  that  the  firemen 
would  have  to  do  to  preserve  these 
autographs  would  be  to  take  out 
the  window  sashes,   saw   out   the 


the  bard  was  born, 
thorne,  in  "T  h  e 
House  of  the  Seven 
Gables,"  speaks  of  a 
room  that  had  wit- 
nessed both  births 
and  deaths.  Such  a 
room  is  this,  for 
within  its  walls 
Shakespeare's  broth- 
ers and  sisters  were 
born,  and  here  it 
was  that  his  father 
and  mother  died. 

In  former  days 
no  visitors'  book 
was  provided,  so 
whoever  wanted  to 
leave  his  name  had 
to  come  equipped 
with  a  diamond,  a 
can  opener  or  a  ten- 
penny  nail.      Thus 


Shakespeare's  Monument 

-Jaw-  "Withal  it  is  a  fine  garden,  for  here  can  be 

gathered  all  the  flowers  that  Ophelia  names.,, 


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timbered  ceilings,  remove  the  plas- 
ter by  the  square  foot,  take  down 
the  bricks  of  the  fireplace  one  by 
one,  remove  the  door  from  its 
hinges,  rip  up  the  flooring,  and 
thus  in  the  twinkling  of  several 
eyes  this  great  autograph  album 
would  be  preserved  intact. 

A  S  a  matter  of  fact,  several  hun- 
dred autographs  were  destroy- 
ed in  1820  when  Mary  Hornby, 
who  then  occupied  the  house,  was 
ordered  to  leave  it.  She  had 
no  desire  whatsoever  to  go; 
but  when  she  found  that  it 
would  be  absolutely  neces- 
sary for  her  to  do  so,  she  de- 
cided to  leave  in  characteristic 
fashion.  She  took  away  all 
the  furniture  and  relics  said 
to  be  connected  with  the 
Shakespeare  family;  and  then 
in  a  great  haste  she  white- 
washed the  walls  of  the  cot- 
tage, obliterating  hundreds 
of  autographs.  Only  part  of 
the  room  in  which  Shake- 
speare was  born  escaped  this 
act  of  resentment. 

On  ascending  the  back 
stairs  I  passed  out  into  the 
trim  little  garden  behind  the 
house  where  useful  and  pret- 
ty things  grow.  Withal  it 
is  a  fine  garden,  for  here  can 
be  gathered  all  of  the  flowers 
that  Ophelia  names.  There's 
rosemary,  that's  for  remem- 
brance; and  there  is  pansies, 
that's  for  thoughts;  there's 
fennel  for  you,  and  colum- 
bines; there's  rue  for  you; 
there's  a  daisy;  I  would  give 
you  some  violets,  but  they 
withered  all  when  my  father 
died." 

All  in  all,  this 
home  of  Shake- 
speare's is  a  typical 
o  1  d  English  place 
where,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  steady 
stream  of  visitors 
from  many  lands, 
life  would  glide 
along  quietly  to  the 
hum  of  the  kettle 
and  the  ticking  of 
the  clock. 

The  Red  Horse 
Inn!  Here  in  olden 
times  many  a  prince 
o  f  Warwickshire 
was  lodged.  Here 
the  great  Garrick 
was  sheltered  when 
he    came    to    Strat- 


550 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


ford  to  direct  the  Shakespeare  ju- 
bilee. Finally  Washington  Irving 
came  and  sat  in  a  straight-backed 
chair  and  shivered  in  a  very  shivery 
room  and  nearly  wore  all  the 
nickel  plate  off  a  poker  stirring 
up  the  coals  to  keep  himself  warm. 
However,  that  did  not  turn  his 
head  against  Shakespeare  and  his 
native  village,  for  he  wrote  of  this 
spot  so  charmingly  that  thousands 
have  made  the  pilgrimage  out  to 
Warwickshire  simply  on  his  strong 
recommendation. 

A  FTER  leaving  the  Red  Horse 
Inn,  I  darted  through  the  rain 
to  a  stationer's  shop  where  I 
bought  the  whole  town  of  Strat- 
ford for  an  English  penny  and 
shipped  it  post-haste  to  America. 
Then  I  fared  forth  and  stood  op- 
posite the  famous  Harvard  House. 
This  is  a  quaint  old  structure  that 
has  grown  so  attached  to  the  spot 
that  it  hasn't  left  it  for  over  three 
hundred  years.  Here  was  born  the 
mother  of  John  Harvard,  founder 
of  Harvard  University.  One  of 
the  most  conspicuous  features  of 
the  house  is  the  immense  number 
of  tiny  windows  with  which  its 
face  is  peppered.  There  must  be 
fully  499  of  them;  and  if  there 
is  any  doubt  about  the  matter, 
I  shall  even  add  another  at  my 
own  expense  and  call  it  500. 

Next  I  made  a  beeline  for  Trini- 
ty Church,  which  towers  above 
the  far-famed  Avon.  Just  then 
the  spattering  raindrops  were  ring- 
ing its  glossy  surface  with  a  thou- 
sand circles.  The  church  is  ap- 
proached by  a  long  walk  overhung 
with  towering  lime  trees.  Through 
these  the  fattest  of  the  raindrops 
came  rattling  down  on  me. 


Solution    of    Cross    Word 

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Note:     No.  3  reading  down  seems 
to  be  a  mistake. 


The  most  important  functionary 
at  the  church  was  a  vigilant  woman 
of  three  score  years  with  her  eye  on 
the  alert  for  stray  specks  of  dirt 
that  might  have  tarried  for  a  mo- 
ment on  the  pews.  What  with 
her  eternal  dust  cloth  and  patent 
mop,  she  hurls  defiance  at  the  tooth 
of  Time.  In  fact,  I  feel  that  if 
Father  Time  began  nibbling  too 
hard  with  his  one  tooth,  this 
wrinkled  factotum  would  rub  soap 
suds  into  his  mouth  until  he 
would  be  tickled  to  escape.  It  is 
very  nice,  however,  to  have  this 
little  old  lady  cleaning  and  dusting 
in  the  church,  for  there  are  so 
many  dead  people  here  that  you 
cannot  feel  interest  in  anything 
modern  whatever..  Among  these 
is  Dr.  John  Hall,  whose  story  is 
told  in  these  words: 


"Here  lyeth  ye  body  of  John  Hall, 
gent.  He  marr.  Susanne  ye  daughter  8 
coheir  of  Will  Shakespeare.  Hee  decessed 
Nover  25  Ao  1635,  aged  60." 


C\N  Shakespeare's  grave  are  in- 
scribed four  lines  that  have 
been  more  effective  in  preserving 
his  bones  than  a  keg  of  gunpowder 
could  have  been.  The  fear  of  the 
evil  eye,  of  the  hoodoo  and  of 
dead  men's  bones  has  ever  been 
powerful  the  world  over,  and  so 
the  poet's  remains  lie  here  undis- 
turbed— safe  in  the  protection  that 
twenty-eight  simple  words  impart: 

"Good  friend  for  Jesus  sake  forbeare 
To  digg  the  dust  encloased  heare; 
Blese  be  ye  man  that  spares  thes  stones 
And  cusst  be  he  yt  moves  my  bones." 

Surely  such  a  spot  as  this,  hal- 
lowed by  the  associations  of  his 
early  manhood,  is  a  more  fitting 
burial  place  than  if  his  body  had 
been  conveyed  to  Westminster  Ab- 
bey. There  it  would  in  a  large 
measure  have  partaken  of  the  cease- 
less turmoil  round  about  it,  but 
here  in  this  secluded  church  the 
repose  is  peaceful  and  tranquil. 
Life  glides  along  here  gently  from 
day  to  day,  smooth  and  placid 
as  the  Avon  drifting  on  its  course. 
The  golden  glow  of  eventide  flood- 
ing in  through  the  lofty  windows 
is  mellowed  and  softened  and,  as 
it  were,  hushed  within  these  old 
familiar  walls. 

And  so  it  was  that  summer's 
day,  for  after  the  darkening  rain 
clouds  were  swept  aside,  a  thou- 
sand panes  burst  forth  into  living 
light,  fit  emblem  of  that  immor- 
tality that  encircles  the  name  of 
Shakespeare. 


-*\<tfoHi&iOl*- 


Of  the  Very  Best  Material 


/^OPY  of  explanations  accompany- 

ing  the  draft  of  a  wagon  sent  to 

Mr.  Peter  Shu  tier  of  Chicago  (1859)  : 

Diameter  of  Hind  Wheel — 4  ft., 
4  in. 

Diameter  of  Fore  Wheel — -3  ft., 
7  in. 

Diameter  of  Hub — 10  inches. 
Depth  of  Felley — 2y2   inches. 

Length  of  hind  hounds  from  axle- 
tree  to  extreme  point — 4  ft.,  2  in. 
Track — 5  feet. 

Pipe  Boxes — neatly  turned  out. 
Medium   size  wagon   with    1    7/8 


Submitted  by  Ben.  R.  Eldredge 

inch  arm  if  you  have  it;  if  not,  let  it 
be  2  inches  in  diameter  at  the  shoulder. 

Every  Felley  bolted  on. 

Let  the  tongs  and  coupling  poles 
be  of  the  very  best  timber. 

As  to  the  shape  of  the  hounds, 
consult  your  own  taste  and  note  the 
drawing.  In  every  other  respect  let 
the  wagons  be  the  same  as  the  last  you 
made  me. 

Every  portion  of  the  wagons  to  be 
of  the  very  best  timber  and  the  very 
best  seasoned. 

Extracts  from  letter  to  Mr.  Shutler. 

"We  shall  want  some  of  the  other 


size  wagons  and  where  you  usually 
put  2  inch  arms  put  2%.  inch.  Mr. 
Eldredge  will  dictate  in  regard  to  these 

matters." 

"Mr.  Kesler  will  probably  visit  your 
shop  with  Mr.  Eldredge.  He  is  a  good 
judge  of  timber,  and  I  should  like  to 
have  him  suited  in  regard  to  the  tim- 
ber." 

(Signed)  Brigham  Young. 

Mr.  Horace  Eldredge  at  one  time 
was  instructed  to  buy  for  the  church 
2,000  oxen  and  400  wagons,  accord- 
ing to  his  son,  Ben.  R.  Eldredge. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


551 


$  The  Love  Blossom  - 

as  the  man  fumbled  in  his  sleeve. 

She  shook  her  head  and  pointed 
to  her  teeth  and  brows. 

Lance  remembered  then  that  a 
bride  goes  to  the  altar  with  shaven 
brows  and  blackened  teeth. 

1HE  Japanese  cleared 
his  throat  fiercely.  "But  you've 
drunk  with  her  from  the  wedding 
flasks,"  he  declared,  his  accent 
astonishingly  good.  "Now  what?" 

The  soft  beauty  of  her  made 
Lance's  head  whirl  but  he  couldn't 
banish  the  lotus-white  face  of 
Anne  from  his  memory.  The 
scent  of  the  Spell-binder  blossoms 
seemed  to  fill  the  temple  and  chain 
him  to  the  memory  of  the  girl  he'd 
never  find. 

"Hurry,  the  lake  is  getting  dan- 
gerous and  you  have  to  play  to- 
night, you  know."    The  Japanese 


tied  on  his  clogs  at  the  entrance 
and  ran  down  the  steep  path. 

"Have  I  injured  you  by  drink- 
ing the  bridal  sake  with  you?  You 
see,  there's  a  girl  called  Anne  and 
I  must  find  her." 

The  air  of  the  temple  or  the 
smile  of  the  Goddess  must  have 
tangled  his  wits  for  Lance  was  not 
in  the  habit  of  telling  his  secrets 
so  casually — he  reddened  and 
blamed  the  temple  sake. 

She  picked  up  her  lacquered 
sandals  and  fastened  them  and 
then  looked  up  frankly.  A  dim 
lantern  outside  showed  him  that 
her  eyes  were  not  black  but  deeply 
blue  and  then  he  saw  a  string  of 
beads  swing  out  above  the  sami- 
sen. 

"Anne,  for  Pete's  sake  step  on 
it.  Do  you  want  to  have  to  buy 
that  fool  outfit  from  Osuki?  The 


Continued  from 
page  533 


rent  of  it  for  a  day  is  outrageous 
and  if  it  gets  wet  .  .  .  make  it 
snappy." 


Wi 


■«Xfi§%§*>0» 


"•> 


^Navajo  and  Pioneer  Friends 


ITH  the  shouted 
words  came  again  the  fragrance  of 
the  flowers  from  China  and  Lance 
touched  one  of  the  wax  beads  and 
put  it  to  his  nose. 

She  nodded  and  flushed.  "Yes. 
They  are  living  in  wax  just  now, 
I — well,  I  just  wanted  to  keep 
them  in  memory  of — old  Yin- 
Ying  in  Kiangsu  .  .  ."  she  whis- 
pered. 

"Remember  her  prophecy? 
'Love  is  born  in  her  heart  and  that 
love  remains — '  " 

"In  his  heart,"  she  corrected, 
blushing  for  his  arms  were  about 
her  gorgeous  sash  now. 

"In  our  hearts,"  he  amended. 


Continued  from 
page  544 


against  eating  after  an  Indian's 
cooking.  I  made  her  understand 
that  I  had  eaten  a  short  time  be- 
fore. (I  suppose  that  is  what 
would  be  called  an  innocent,  white 
lie,  but  never  again.)  Then  the 
man  came  and  had  my  ponies  taken 
away,  and  asked  by  signs  when  I 
wanted  them  brought  back.  I  told 
him,  also  by  signs,  that  I  wished 
to  get  off  early  the  next  morning. 

"Even  though  the  reception  was 
apparently  friendly,  I  still  had 
serious  doubts  as  I  saw  my  horses 
go  out  of  sight  over  the  ridge.  I 
wondered  if  I  should  ever  see  them 
again.  When  the  family  were 
sound  asleep  and  everything  was 
quiet,  I  decided  to  try  to  find  the 
horses  and  make  sure  they  had  not 
been  stolen,  so  I  crept  silently  out 
of  bed  and  stealthily  made  my  way 


by  following  the  tracks  of  the  ani- 
mals until  I  found  them  in  the 
most  perfect  pasture  I  had  seen.  I 
returned  quietly  to  my  bed  much 
relieved.  At  daybreak  my  ponies 
were  brought  and  tied  to  the  tree 
from  which  they  were  taken  the 
night  before.  They  were  fresh 
and  ready  for  another  fifty  miles. 

"\X^HEN  our  caravan  returned  to 
his  vicinity,  we  met  my  In- 
dian host  and  further  headway  in 
our  friendship  was  made.  For 
years  our  meetings  continued  until 
our  friendship  ripened  into  a  sa- 
cred love,  which  was  nurtured  by 
an  honored  Indian  custom  of  ex- 
changing gifts.  Sometimes  on  his 
part  it  consisted  of  a  choice  leg  of 
mutton,  sometimes  a  leg  of  young 
venison,  again  some  handiwork  of 


-oc^^^x*- 


-<* 


$The  Magic  Highway  to  the  Silent  City 


silver,  a  fancy  rug,  etc.,  made  by 
his  wife  or  others  of  their  people. 
The  seventy-five  miles  which  sep- 
arated our  homes  was  no  great  bar- 
rier to  our  meeting  except  when 
the  weather  was  very  bad. 

COMETIMES  I  wonder  if  this 
spirit  of  exchanging  gifts  will 
not  carry  over  into  that  permanent 
home  along  with  the  gospel  and  all 
other  beautiful  things  that  are 
"praise- worthy  and  of  good  re- 
port," as  a  sort  of  physical  me- 
dium to  cement  spiritual  friend- 
ships. What,  on  this  earth,  is 
more  to  be  desired  than  friends 
whose  hearts  are  pure  and  true,  and 
who  do  not  waver  through  good 
or  evil  report?  As  such  an  one  I 
regard  that  old  descendant  of  Le- 
hi — Nattancy-yazzy." 


Continued  from 

page  547 


ous  spectacle  in  the  world.  So  tarry 
there  as  long  as  possible.  Follow 
its  many  trails  (some  of  which  are 
still  to  be  completed)  on  foot  and 
horseback  around  the  rim  and 
down  into  the  canyon.  But  never 
wander  alone  off  the  beaten  trail 
down  in  the  canyon,  as  I  did,  and 
discover  yourself  lost  in  the  most 
bewildering  labyrinth  that  ever 
baffled  human  ingenuity! 


But  when  you  must  leave  the 
Silent  City — and  what  joy  is  not 
evanescent? — there  is  no  more  feli- 
citous way  than  over  the  climbing, 
dipping  highway  by  way  of  Cedar 
Breaks  which  in  vastness  and  wild 
grandeur  is  the  greatest  of  Utah's 
painted  amphitheatres. 

This  cursory  birdseye-view  of  a 
country  about  which  thousands  of 
words  could  be  written,  is  in  its 


brevity  little  more  than  a  sign  post 
at  the  crossroads.  But  if  it  guides 
your  restless  spirit  over  the  magic 
highway  to  the  Silent  City  it  will 
have  served  its  purpose  well. 

Then,  later,  in  the  afterglow  of 
memory  you  will  recall,  as  I  do 
now,  the  words  of  Whittier: 

"Touched  by  a  light  that  hath  no  name, 

A  glory  never  sung, 
Aloft  on  sky  and  mountain  wall, 

Are   God's  great  pictures  hung." 


552 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


^Broadcastings  from  the  M.  L  A.  Annual  Conference- 


were  held  on  the  afternoon  of  June 
11,  1932,  as  a  part  of  the  June  con- 
ference of  the  M.  I.  A.,  the  dancing 
contest  having  taken  place  the  day  be- 
fore at  Saltair.  Intense  interest  was 
evident  throughout,  and  the  events 
proved  to  be  a  delightful  culmination 
of  the  season's  work. 

In  the  contest  in  dancing,  North- 
western States  Mission  took  first  place, 
Nellie  Baker  and  William  Powell  of 
Portland,  Oregon,  being  their  repre- 
sentatives. Judges  were  Miranda  Mat- 
son,  Fred  Jackson  and  Nell  Anderson. 

The  drama  contest  was  held  at  the 
Playhouse,  winners  being  Bountiful 
First  Ward,  South  Davis  Stake.  Judges 
were  Leora  Thatcher,  Wallace  Goates 
and  Mrs.  Grace  Nixon  Stewart. 


In  M  Men  public  speaking,  Elwin 
Garfield  of  Tremonton,  Bear  River 
Stake,  was  given  first  place.  In  Glean- 
er public  speaking,  Doris  Dalby  of 
Salt  Lake  Stake  won.  Judges  for 
both  events  were  Dr.  Adam  S.  Ben- 
nion,  Judge  Oscar  McConkie,  and  Mrs. 
T.  Earl  Pardoe. 

The  Retold  Story  winners  were: 
William  Mulder,  Salt  Lake  Stake 
(Vanguard),  and  Lila  Kainz,  Holly- 
wood Stake  (Junior  Girl) .  Judges 
were  Harrison  R.  Merrill,  Margaret 
Caldwell  and  Mrs.  Claire  Stewart 
Boyer. 

In  the  Vanball  contest,  Ephraim 
North  Ward  of  North  Sanpete  Stake, 
placed   first,    with   Emigration   Ward, 


*>— 


— »1C^g£s*X>1»- 


-<• 


^The  Echo  Canyon  War 


Continued  from 
page  529 


Liberty  Stake,  second.  Consolation 
awards  went  to  Kaysville  Ward,  North 
Davis  Stake,  first  and  Bear  River  Stake 
second. 

In  Archery,  Elliott  Airmet  of  En- 
sign Ward,  Ensign  Stake,  took  first 
place.  In  the  contest  for  Vanguard 
leaders,  Gilbert  Moss  of  Liberty  Stake, 
won.  Ensign  Ward,  Ensign  Stake, 
placed  first  in  the  Archery  team  con- 
test. In  the  clout  shoot,  Phillip 
Thompson  of  Bountiful  Second  Ward, 
South  Davis  Stake,  placed  first.  In 
the  flight  contest,  Wilson  White,  of 
Cottonwood  Ward,  Cottonwood 
Stake,  was  first  place  winner.  The 
shooting  of  the  first  arrow  in  the 
contest  by  President  Ivins,  lent  a  note 
of  intense   interest. 


Continued  from 
page  530 


Such  waves  of  sound  as  fairies  can 
Alone  send  forth.  Then  through  the  dale, 

Back  came  the  echo — "Hail,  all  hail!" 
Waved  now  the  queen  her  magic  wand 

And  lily  field  became  a  band 
Of  list'ning  sprites  on  blades  of  grass — 

"My  gentle  Friends,  we  must  not  pass 
The  purpose  of  our  gathering  here: 

Behold,  the  streamlets  cool  and  clear, 
How  from  great  heights  of  purest  snow 

They  trickle  down  to  vales  below; 
These  we  must  hold  for  our  own  sakes, 

And  turn  them  into  glist'ning  lakes. 

So  'twas  agreed,  and  seven  dells 

By  dint  of  work  and  fairy  spells 
With  falling  dew  and  feath'ry  flakes 

Became  blue,  shimmering,  limped  lakes, 
In  which  the  quaking-asps  and  pines 

Are  mirrored  with  the  rough-hewn  lines 
Of  crag  and  peak  and  rose-hued  cloud; 

While    moon    and    stars    so    calm    and 
proud, 
View  from  their  lofty  dwelling  place 

Their  own  majestic,  mystic  grace. 

Years  flew  apace  and  beaut'ous  glen 

Became  a  fav'rite  haunt  of  men, 
And  thither-ward  went  Brigham  Young 

Of  whom  the  fairies  once  had  sung — 
Went  with  his  people  to  rejoice 

And  give  their  grateful  feelings  voice, 
For  flocks  and  herds  and  valleys  fair, 

For  rest  and  peace — O  Saints  beware! 

Their   tents   were   pitched,    the    feast    was 
spread, 

The  Stars  and  Stripes  waved  over-head; 
The  July  sun  sent  down  its  ray 

And  merriment  tripped  through  the  day, 
While  cupid's  bow  was  slyly  bent 

And  many  a  glance  of  love  was  sent 
"Twixt  noble  youth  and  blushing  maid, 

As  hand  in  hand  they  walked  the  glade. 

A  word,  a  thrill,  and  Brigham  Young 

To  his  keen  eye  the  glasses  flung, 
And  lo,  four  men  dashed  o'er  the  plain 

On  flying  steeds.  With  might  and  main 
They  urged  them  through  the  canyon  wild 

To  tell  the  news.     Serene  and  mild 
Their  leader  stood,  then  spoke  the  word 

Which  every  heart  with  anguish  stirred. 
"Break  camp,"  he  said,    "with   morning's 
ray, 


Back  to  our  homes  we  must  away; 
An  army  from  United  States 

Is  on  the  way,  our  fair  estates 
To  confiscate,  and  drive  us  hence. 

This,  Dear  Friends,  our  recompense, 
For  teaching  love  for  all  mankind, 

And  leaving  homes  and  wealth  behind 
For  those  who,  ruthless,  drove  us  forth 

Caring  for  neither  cold  nor  dearth, 
To  plod  the  deserts  wild  and  lone, 

Which  beast  and  savage  called  their  own ; 
Where  many  fell  in  their  last  sleep, 

Where  wint'ry  blasts  their  vigils  keep. 
For  God  and  conscience  sake  we  came — 
And  liberty.     In  His  great  name 
You  shall  be  free. 

"Now  to  your  beds,  in  His  kind  care 
Let  peace  and  trust  displace  despair." 

Adown  the  canyon's  winding  trail, 
O'er  sloping  hills  and  fertile  vale 

They  made  their  way,   each  tongue  sub- 
dued, 
Each  heart  upraised  in  gratitude 


To  Israel's  God  whose  gracious  Beam 

Had  guided  them  o'er  brake  and  stream, 
When  through  a  wild,  mountainous  land 

They  came  an  exiled,  pilgrim  band 
And,  whom  they  knew  would  guard  them 
now. 
Though  armies  might  their  homes  o'er- 
throw. 

The  army  camped  at  Fort  Winfield; 

With  false  reports  and  hatred  zealed 
And  sickened  with  their  toilsome  way 

Were  ripe  and  eager  for  the  fray; 
They  fain  would  meet  and  measure  steel 

With  Mormon  horde  and  make  them  feel 
The  weight  of  their  superior  arms. 

Meanwhile  they  jested  of  the  charms 
Of  mountain  maid — her  pretty  wiles 

Would  cheer  them  for  their  weary  miles ; 
And  well-stored  homes  of  wholesome  food 

Were  easy  prey  fore-casting  good 
Where  soldiers  of  the  U.  S.  A. 

Should  hoist  their  flag  supreme  and  gay. 

Swift  messengers  from  side  to  side 

Traversed  the  canyon  horse  astride 
The  Governor  of  Deseret 

Was  notified  and  duly  met 
An  army  captain  cool  and  shrewd, 

In  most  respectful  attitude 
Before  the  chief  who  on  him  threw 

A  glance  at  once  so  firm  and  true, 
The  gallant  Captain  was  disarmed 


*    * 


or   was   he 


i/Pls^pt 


6  MEDLEY 


Of   threatened   fear   * 
charmed 
With  dignity  of  speech  and  poise 

Of  him  whom  perfidy  had  noised 
Was  in  rebellion  'gainst  the  States? 

However,  history  relates — 
The  soldier  came  to  purchase  stores, 

Commissioned  by  superiors, 
Who  weighty  documents  had  sent 

Charging  a  deed  of  great  moment. 
By  some  mistake  the  Nation's  Chief 

Executive,  whose  wisdom  brief 
Allowed  him  to  absorb  the  tale, 

With  which  the  army  doth  regale 
Itself  betimes,  and  men  and  staff 

Are  quite  content  to  chew  the  chaff — 
How  certain  records  had  been  burned 

And     "Mr.     Young,    you    must     have 
learned; 
Your  Governor  is  on  the  way, 

Must  be  installed  without  delay. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


553 


not 


?ov- 


Our  soldiers  too  must  enter  here — " 

"Come  they  in  peace?   The  tale's 
clear; 
Why  send  an  army  to  install 

A  governor?  Within  the  law  I'm 
ernor  of  Deseret 
Am  sworn  to  honor  and  protect 
My  people  'thout  regard  to  creed, 

There's  something  back,  there  is  no  need 
Of  arm-ed  troops  or  adder's  tongue 

To  do  the  right."  Said  Brigham  Young: 
"We've  been  maligned;  some  rascals  low 

Have  plotted  for  our  overthrow; 
The  canyon  bleak  and  wild  and  riven 

Shall  hold  you  back  till  word  is  given, 
That  we  our  course  may  justify, 

The  word  that  brot  you  was  a  lie. 
Your  army,  sir,  will  be  delayed 

Till  explanations  have  been  made, 
Until  we  hear  from  Washington — 

My  men  may  be  depended  on; 
They  hold  the  key  to  yon  vast  gate 

Until  they're  ready  you  can  wait." 

"Governor  Young,  do  you  not  know, 

If  our  great  nation  orders  so 
You  must  eventually  submit? 

Though  brave  your  men  you  cannot  pit 
Their  strength  against  United  States," 

The  captain  said.  "Though  all  the  fates 
Were  with  you  for  a  lengthened  time — " 

"We  want  no  fight,"  in  tones  sublime 
The  chief  averred,  "but  if  we  must 

In  His  strong  arm  we'll  put  our  trust; 
Our  wives  and  daughters  we'll  defend 

And  fight  you  to  the  bitter  end; 
Come  you  with  sword  or  gun  or  rod, 

You  cannot  measure  arms  with  God. 
But  God  forbid  that  we  should  shed 

One  drop  of  blood  or  bow  one  head, 
Save  it  should  be  in  self-defense. 

But  bear  you  this  intelligence — 
We  will  not  furnish  you  supplies 

For  man  nor  beast,  and  I  advise 
That  you  construct  a  winter  fort, 

And  settle  down  to  peaceful  sport 
And  keep  your  men  from  wandering 

The  while  you  wait  for  tardy  Spring." 
"Sir,"  said  the  soldier,  "I  believe 

You  true,  and  fain  would  I  relieve 
You  from  the  threatened  cloud — " 

Grasping   his    hand:    "I'm    more    than 
proud 
To  find  such  candor  such  resolve. 

I  go  this  mischief  to  dissolve, 
Allow  the  troops  to  march  this  way 

And  peace  shall  glint  their  banners  gay." 

"Kind    sir,"    said    Young,    "you    do   not 
know 

The  treachery  that  lurks  below 
The  surface  of  a  seeming  truce, 

E'en  General  Johnston  can't  induce 
Me  or  my  men  to  let  them  through 

Until  we  prove  them  frank  and  true ; 
I've  heard  such  promises  before, 

And  seen  them  broken  o'er  and  o'er. 
Go,  tell  your  General,  Officer, 

The  constitution  we  revere 
He'll  find  the  records  'thout  a  flaw. 

My  people  honoring  the  law 
And  fearing  God.      If  he  shall  say: 

That  to  these  vales  he'll  fight  his  way, 
Tell  him  from  me ;   though  deserts  bloom 

In  God's  great  world  there  still  is  room, 
Which  we  will  find,  begin  again, 

This  order.  Sir,  you  can't  restrain. 

"We've  made  new  homes,  been  driven  forth 

As  vagabonds  unfit  for  earth; 
And  in  the  Name  of  Israel's  God, 

By  these  broad  vales  our  feet  have  trod, 
Made  sacred  by  our  prayers  and  tears — 

Where  we've  had  rest  a  few  short  years. 
Should  he  succeed  his  point  to  gain, 

He  shall  not  find  nor  grass  nor  grain 
Nor  tree  nor  shrub;   we'll  sweep  with  fire 


Our  own  dear  homes;  then  he  may  hire, 
Good  Sir,  the  tardy  elements 

To  feed  his  horses,  fill  his  tents 
With  wholesome  food  and  choice  supplies, 

On  barren  valleys  feast  his  eyes;" 
Then  from  his  lips  so  firm  there  ran : 

"We're  all  united  to  a  man." 

The  Indian  Summer  with  its  glow 

Of  gorgeous  sun  and  brilliant  show 
Of  scarlet  bands  and  tufts  of  gold, 

Had  paled  before  the  storm-king  bold. 
Who  robed  the  earth  with  snow  and  ice 

And  held  the  streams  as  with  a  vice, 
Making  it  hard  for  man  and  beast, 

Who  had  not  shared  in  harvest  feast 
Frozen  and  starved  the  cattle  died, 

For  still  the  army  must  abide 
Far  from  their  contemplated  goal, 

Though    one    had    said — peace    to    his 
soul — 
"That  Mormon  valor  he  would  quell 

And  winter  there  or  else  in  hell;" 
But  Mormon  valor  stood  the  test. 

And  guarded  well  the  sacred  nest. 

But  men  must  arm  and  women  work, 

Each  to  his  task  not  one  must  shirk ; 
The  children  must  be  clothed  and  fed, 

The  soldier  husbands  who  had  sped 
Into  the  canyon's  rugged  hold 

Must  be  protected  from  the  cold; 
You  wives  must  sew  and  weave  and  spin 

And  fashion  garments — coats  of  skin, 
Or  carpets  from  your  looms  will  do 

As  well  as  gilded  coats  of  blue; 
Though  garbed  in  rags  or  what  you  will, 

A  soldier  is  a  soldier  still. 

Prepared  for  war,  prepared  for  peace, 
Praying  that  enmity  might  cease, 

That  peaceful  messengers  might  bring 
Good    news    with    the    first    gleam    of 
Spring. 

And  so  it  was,  the  bubble  burst; 

Buchanan's  blunder  from  the  first     . 
Had  been  the  butt  aad  scoff  of  men 

On  land  and  sea,  by  word  and  pen — 
They  censured  him;  the  soldiers  too 

Who'd  had  to  scrimp  and  shiver  through 
An  arduous  Winter  'thout  reward 

Of  e'en  a  battle  with  the  guard. 
Who'd  watched  the  canyon  night  and  day, 

Would    fain    have   made   of   him    their 
prey. 


,^>  '<* 


Cee/?7  a***' 


The  bloodless  war  was  at  an  end, 

For  lo,  there  came  a  stalwart  friend, 
A  mediator  'twixt  the  two, 

The  suffering  army  and  the  few 
Brave  citizens  of  Deseret — 

The  situation  must  be  met; 
The  President  had  pardon  sent 

To  men  who  never  yet  had  bent 
The  bands  of  justice  or  of  right, 

Their  only  crime  to  stand  in  might 
For  righteousness  and  liberty, 

That  'neath  the  flag  men  might  be  free. 

Ex-Governor  Young  assenting  to 

The  overtures;  'thout  more  ado 
Governor  Cumming  was  installed, 

The  army  still  by  mountains  walled. 
Must  needs  remain  without  the  vale. 

Said  Brigham  Young:  "I'll  not  entail 
The  smallest  risk!  No  army  shall 

Encamp  within  the  city  wall ; 
The  followers  that  motley  gang. 

Who  drag  along  with  smirching  slang. 
Like  carrion  feeding  on  their  prey, 

Shall  not  pollute  our  streets  one  day ; 
Or  if  they  do  as  we  have  said 

They'll  find  the  hills  and  valleys  red 
With  flame  and  smoke."     The  Governor 

Made  promises  *  *  *  stood  sponsor  for 
The  soldiers  if  they  might  pass  through 

The  city — e'en  the  motley  crew, 
Should  keep  the  peace  and  far  away 

Should  make  their  camp.     Then  came 
the  day 
When  cavalry  with  flags  unfurled, 

Pranced  down  the  canyon  to  the  world 
They'd  hoped  and  waited  long  to  see. 

And  line  on  line  of  infantry, 
Their  blankets  rolled  upon  their  backs. 

Their  bright  canteens  and  haversacks. 
With  bayonets  pointing  to  the  sky, 

To  martial  music  hurried  by, 
For  mile  on  mile  they  needs  must  tramp 

Beyond  the  city  to  their  camp. 

The  dreary  streets  stretch  wide  and  long. 

With  not  a  child,  a  maid  or  song, 
After  their  long  and  weary  wait 

To  waft  a  greeting  o'er  the  gate, 
The  brooklets  only  through  the  grass 

Are  laughing  at  them  as  they  pass. 

How  lone  and  still!  How  desolate. 

What  evil  this,  what  dismal  fate 
Has  fallen  on  this  once  glad  town? 

Where  are  its  people,  whither  flown 

The  life,  the  spirit  of  the  vale? 

Ah,  yonder  cottage  tells  the  tale; 
Look  thou  within  the  shining  pane 

And  pitying  tears  thou'lt  not  restrain. 
True  to  his  word  was  Brigham  Young, 

His  people  hearkened  to  his  tongue: 
"Once  more,  O  Israel,  to  your  tents, 

Go  seek  the  Southern  settlements, 
Until  we're  sure  there  is  no  snare 

To  trip  our  feet;  have  you  a  care? 
Our  trusted  soldiers — two  or  three — 

Shall  here  remain;  should  treachery 
Lift  but  one  finger,  every  latch 

Will  yield  to  them.  The  flaming  match 
Will  do  the  rest  *  *  *  Nay,  do  not  weep! 

The  sacrifice  you  make  shall  leap 
Up  on   the  ember's  scarlet  glow 

Unto    high   Heaven;    your   homes   laid 
low 
Shall  witness  to  your  faithfulness. 

Fresh  courage  take,  should  this  distress, 
This  darkling  cloud  be  turned  aside 

And  men  and  officers  abide 
In  friendliness  within  our  gates 

We  shall  return  your  fair  estates, 
Made  fairer  by  the  passing  cloud, 

Shall   cheer   with   joy   the   heart's   now 
bowed, 
And  Israel's  God  shall  with  us  be, 

And  crown  our  lives  with  victory!" 


Herein  is  a  bit  of  unre- 
corded history  of  a  tragedy 
— or  was  it  a  tragedy — 
which  occurred  many  years 
ago.  The  incident  is  told  by 

Karl  E.  Young 

who  for  yearsy  has  been 
studying  Indian  customs^ 
costumes  and  stories. 


Frontier 
Burial 


SOMETIME  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  Utah  a  strange 
death  overtook  two  men  in 
the  mouth  of  American  Fork  Can- 
yon. The  evidence  of  the  trag- 
edy, which  has  only  recently  been 
revealed,  was  contained  in  two 
shallow  graves  which  were  found 
just  before  snowfall  last  Novem- 
ber by  Jack  Healy,  a  prospector. 

Mr.  Healy  was  picking  his  way 
across  a  steep  hillside  when  his 
curiosity  was  aroused  by  two 
queer-looking  mounds  which,  as 
he  tells  us,  "seemed  mighty  super- 
stitious," out  in  the  middle  of  a 
smooth  shale  slope.  He  struck  his 
pick  into  one  of  the  mounds  and 
lodged  it,  to  his  amazement,  in  a 
human  skull.  Working  rapidly, 
he  soon  removed  a  covering  of 
about  ten  inches  of  shale  and  rocks 
and  laid  bare  two  human  skele- 
tons, each  reposing  on  a  litter  of 
decayed  oak  boughs  and  leaves. 

'TpHE    dead    men    had   evidently 

been  buried   with  all  of  their 

possessions,  for  the  remains  of  four 


old  muzzle-loading  rifles  lay  in  the 
hollows  of  their  arms,  and  knives 
and  powder-cans,  as  well  as 
pouches  containing  moulded  bul- 
lets were  found  along  with  many 
other  less  important  articles  which 
had  been  placed  beside  the  bodies. 
But  Healy's  eye  suddenly  fell  up- 
on a  much-battered  cold-chisel.  Its 
effect  upon  his  imagination  was  in- 
stantaneous and  complete.  Such  a 
tool,  he  thought,  could  be  used 
only  for  prospecting;  hence  these 
men  must  have  been  prospectors. 
Furthermore,  since  so  many  other 
possessions  had  been  buried  beside 
them,  no  doubt  their  'findings,' 
must  also  be  in  the  graves.  With 
a  true  prospector's  excess  of  zeal, 
Mr.  Healy  immediately  began  to 
clean  out  the  graves  in  his  search 
for  treasure.  Bones,  guns,  beads, 
bracelets,  tattered  clothing,  hair, 
harness,  and  everything  else  he 
came  to  were  thrown  indiscrim- 
inately among  the  rocks  around- 
about.    And,  having  arrived  at  the 


1.  Moulded  bullets  and  pouch. 

2.  Metal  powder  cans. 

3.  Bullet  mould. 

4.  Silver  rifle-mountings. 

5.  Knife  blades. 

6.  Cold  chisel. 

7.  Bundle  of  mysterious  sticks. 

8.  Copper  bracelets. 

bottom  of  the  graves  without  find- 
ing the  expected  sacks  of  gold,  the 
excited  man  continued  to  excavate, 
pitching  rocks  and  refuse  out  on 
the  wreckage  below  him. 

It  was  in  this  deplorable  con- 
dition that  Dr.  George  Hansen,  of 
the  B.  Y.  U.  Geology  Department, 
found  the  evidence  when,  after  be- 
ing notified  of  the  discovery,  he 
took  a  small  group  of  men  to 
American  Fork  with  him  to  in- 
vestigate. Since  a  systematic  ex- 
cavation had  been  rendered  impos- 
sible, he  and  his  men  gathered  up 
everything  that  could  be  found  and 
took  notes  on  what  Mr.  Healy  said 
concerning  the  positions  of  the 
skeletons  and  all  other  objects  as 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


555 


they  lay  in  the  graves  when  first 
discovered.  The  skeletons  were 
then  laid  out  and  pieced  together 
and  an  attempt  was  made  to  re- 
construct the  evidence  as  nearly  as 
possible. 

HPHE  first  assumption  was  that 
the  men  were  Indians,  for  In- 
dians are  accustomed  to  burying  a 
dead  man's  possessions  with  him  so 
that  he  may  have  no  difficulties  on 
his  journey  to  the  Happy  Hunting 
Grounds.  This  assumption  was 
supported  by  a  number  of  signifi- 
cant details:  first,  the  finding  of 
several  bits  of  straight  black  hair 
which,  when  examined  under  the 
microscope,  looked  very  coarse  and 
heavy  in  comparison  with  white 
man's  hair;  then,  numerous  frag- 
ments of  eagle  feathers  and  scraps 
of  otter  fur — both  very  character- 
istic articles  of  Indian  adornment; 
third,  a  double  handful  of  colored 
china  beads  and  two  copper  brace- 
lets such  as  the  traders  sold  to  In- 
dians; fourth,  a  bundle  of  short 
sticks  crudely  sharpened  at  one  end, 
but  skinned  and  whittled  smooth, 
and  tied  together  with  a  strip  of 
cloth  very  much  like  an  old  hat 
band.  (These  sticks  were  too  short 
to  have  been  made  into  arrows. 
Perhaps  they  were  part  of  a  "medi- 
cine bundle.")  Finally,  there  were 
patches  of  fringed  buckskin  with 
tiny  blue  beads  still  hanging  from 
shreds  of  sinew  thread. 

Opposed  to  this  array  of  facts 
was  a  long,  if  not  quite  so  con- 
vincing, list  of  reasons  for  suppos- 
ing that  the  men  were  whites.  First 
of  all,  their  equipment  was  much 
more  complete  than  was  usually 
the  case  with  Indians.  Besides  the 
four  long-barrelled,  silver-mounted 
rifles,  powder-cans,  bullet  pouches, 
and  knives  already  mentioned  there 
were  found  in  the  graves  two 
powder  horns,  a  bullet-mould,  two 
sets  of  stirrups  (but,  singularly 
enough,  no  trace  of  leathers  or 
saddle-trees  to  go  with  them) ,  two 
bridle  bits,  several  buckles  and 
hooks  which  must  have  come  from 
pack  saddles,  a  bell  such  as  is  at- 
tached to  a  horse  at  night,  two 
spoons,  the  cold-chisel,  a  factory- 
made  clay  pipe,  and — most  im- 
portant— several  fragments  of  vari- 
ous kinds  of  cloth  (homespun, 
whipcord,  calico  print  and  silk) 
which,  along  with  glass  buttons 
and  brass  coat  buttons,  had  com- 
prised important  articles  of  apparel. 
Much  of  the  equipment  looked  like 
government  issue.  Of  course,  the 
fringed  buckskin,  furs,  feathers  and 


even  beads  and  bracelets  might  be 
explained  away  by  citing  instances 
from  Parkman's  "Oregon  Trail" 
or  other  authentic  books  in  which 
white  frontiersmen  dressed  and 
lived  very  much  like  Indians. 

/^\NE  more  argument  could  be 
recruited  in  support  of  the 
theory  that  the  men  were  whites: 
the  enamel  had  been  badly  worn 
off  of  the  grinding  surfaces  of  the 
teeth  in  one  skull.  Such  a  condi- 
tion is  common  among  tobacco- 
chewers,  and  tobacco-chewing  is  a 
white  man's  habit.  Nevertheless, 
when  the  evidence  was  weighed  the 
conclusions  arrived  at  were  that  the 
skeletons  were  those  of  Indians, 
and  furthermore,  that  they  must 
have  been  buried  by  friends,  be- 
cause enemies  would,  without  a 
doubt,  have  left  their  bodies  to  the 
coyotes  and  carried  off  their  guns 
and  other  valuables. 

And  yet,  though  buried  by 
friends  it  is  quite  certain  that  these 
men  had  suffered  a  violent  death, 
for  the  top  of  one  skull  had  been 
caved  in  while  it  was  green  and  had 
dried  in  this  shape,  indicating  that 
this  person  had  been  killed  by  a 
blow  from  a  heavy,  blunt  instru- 
ment,— perhaps  a  war  club  or  the 
butt  of  a  gun.  Just  how  the  sec- 
ond man  died  it  was  impossible  to 
ascertain,  although  several  bits  of 
long  black  hair  were  found  near 
him  stuck  together  by  what  must 
have  been  clots  of  blood. 

[T  is  possible  to  account  for  most 
of  the  evidence  by  supposing 
that  these  two  men  were  killed  in 
a  skirmish  with  some  enemy  and 
then  quietly  buried  by  their  com- 
panions after  the  fight.  But  in  this 
case  it  is  strange  that  the  burials 
should  have  been  situated  so  high 
above  the  canyon  floor,  for  they 
were  two  hundred  and  fifty  or 
three  hundred  yards  up  on  a  very 
steep  slope  of  the  mountain.     It  is 


conceivable  that  the  warriors  were 
buried  where  they  fell,  but  it  is 
more  probable  that  they  were  in 
enemy  country  and  that  their 
friends  had  brought  them  high  up 
on  this  difficult  slope  to  prevent 
discovery  and  desecration  of  their 
bodies  after  the  war-party  had  left 
the  country.  This  would  also 
adequately  explain  the  absence  of 
horses  from  the  burials,  for  it 
would  be  difficult  to  get  horses  up 
on  the  steep  mountain  in  the  first 
place,  and  it  would  be  still  more 
difficult  to  conceal  the  burials  if 
horses  were  killed  there,  and  last- 
ly, the  war  party  would  probably 
be  in  need  of  all  the  horses  it  could 
get. 

The  date  of  the  killing  is  very 
uncertain,  but  there  is  some  rea- 
son for  supposing  that  it  took  place 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  between 
fifty  and  seventy-five  years  ago. 
The  finding  of  several  oak  twigs 
with  small  dried  buds  on  them  in 
the  litter  at  the  bottom  of  the 
graves  was  the  basis  for  fixing  the 
early  spring  as  the  time  of  the  in- 
cident. And  the  extremely  badly 
decomposed  contents  of  everything 
in  the  graves  including  the  rifle 
barrels,  which  were  pitted  and 
rusted  almost  to  pieces,  as  well  as 
the  type  of  equipment  determined 
the  fixing  of  the  date  at  so  early  a 
period  in  Utah  history. 

It  is  however,  possible  that  these 
might  have  been  victims  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  If  anyone  can 
add  anything  to  the  information 
already  obtained,  Dr.  George  H. 
Hansen  will  be  glad  to  affix  it  to 
the  display  of  the  relics  now  in  a 
showcase  at  the  Brigham  Young 
University. 


—<k4@&x»- 


At  the  Grave. 


Twenty-first  Annual 
Timpanogos  Hike 

ANNOUNCEMENTS  have  been 
"^  made  by  those  in  charge  of  the 
21st  Annual  Timpanogos  Hike  that 
it  will  be  held  on  July  22-23.  The 
program  in  the  Theatre  of  the  Pines 
at  Aspen  Grove  will  be  held  Friday 
evening,  July  22.  It  will  be  followed 
by  the  huge  ceremonial  bonfire  which 
will  be  lighted  in  the  traditional 
fashion  by  twenty-one  nymphs  of  Mt. 
Timpanogos.  The  Annual  organized 
hike  will  take  place  on  the  following 
day,  July  23. 

Forest  officials  declare  that  snow 
is  unusually  plentiful  on  the  mountain 
this  year  and  that  glacier,  waterfalls, 
and  flowers  will  be  at  their  best  by 
July  23. 


/  You  Haven 't  a  JVand, 


Wave  a  Spade 

By  Margaret  C.  Moloney 


IT'S   marvelous   the   magic   there 

is  in  the  common  garden  vari- 
ety of  spade.  I  venture  to  say  it 
carries  as  much  magic  as  the  wand 
the  fairy  godmother  waved  so  reck- 
lessly around  and  about  the  person 
of  poor  little  Cinderella.  For  when 
the  spade  gets  busy  Mother  Nature 
steps  up  and  for  magic  stunts  she's 
a  world-beater,  barring  none- — 
fairy  godmothers  not  excepted! 

Not  having  a  wand,  or  a  fairy 
godmother,  but  having  a  wood- 
shed that  was  the  one  discordant 
note  in  our  rural  symphony,  I 
wielded  the  spade  in  lieu  of  the 
wand,  and  left  the  rest  to  Mother 
Nature,  and  between  us  we  *  *  * 
but  I'll  let  the  old  woodshed  tell 
it  in  his  own  way. 

"It's  clothes  that  make  the 
man,"  said  the  old  woodshed. 

The  great  fir  towering  above 
him  made  no  reply.  Clothes  were 
the  least  of  his  troubles.  He'd 
always  had  them.  Always  would 
have  them  so  long  as  he  lived. 

"Take  meself,  for  instance,"  the 
old-timer  continued.  "Last  spring 
when  the  little  ranch  began  to 
blossom  out,  from  the  new  rustic 
gate  opening  onto  the  highway, 
to  the  new  stile  leading  down  to 
the  racing  driver,  with  a  new  coat 
of  willow  green  for  the  wee  house, 
flowery  prints  for  all  the  fruit 
trees,  a  green  velvet  carpet  under- 
foot— why  even  the  scrub  oaks 
were  presented  with  brand  new 
green  suits — everything  on  the 
ranch  had  a  new  spring  suit,  but 
me.  And  here  I  stood  in  plain 
view  of  the  highway,  old  and  ug- 
ly, marring  the  whole  picture.  I 
felt  bad,  I  can  tell  you,  and  I 
looked  worse! 

"One  day  when  I  was  feeling 
about  as  bad  as  a  fellow  can  feel 
along  came  Herself  with  her  arms 
full  of  tubers  and; twigs  and  things, 
and  a  spade. 

"  'Poor  Old  Dear,'  she  tried  to 
comfort  me,  seeing  how  bad  I 
looked,  'we're  going  to  try  waving 
a  spade  around,  since  we  have  no 
magic  wand.  We  haven't  any 
fairy  godmother,  but    we  have  a 


grand  old  Mother — Nature,  and 
we'll  see  what  we  shall  see.'  She 
laughed  very  happily  and  started 
digging  all  around  me;  but  I 
wasn't  happy  by  any  means  for  I 
figured  that  if  she  was  going  to 
plant  flowers  at  my  feet  I'd  only 
look  worse  looming  up  big  and 
ugly  above  them  you  know. 

"But  she  worked  ahead  until 
she  had  all  the  plants  in,  and  then 
she  stood  back  and  checked  them 
off  to  be  sure  she  had  them  right — 
'On  the  west,'  she  said,  'cle- 
matis paniculata  and  purple  wis- 
taria, one  at  each  corner.  The  wis- 
taria can  climb  up  this  way  and 
the  clematis  this  way,  and  when 
they  meet  over  the  door!'  She 
shook  her  bobbed  head  as  if  she 
hadn't  words  to  express  what  she 
was  thinking.  'On  the  north,' 
she  went  on,  'Dorothy  Perkins 
and  Bitterswtet.  On  the  west  just 
the  ivy.  For  the  wood  must  be 
thrown  in  somewhere,  and  ivy  is 
the  only  thing  that  would  with- 
stand that  ordeal.  South,  Paul's 
Scarlet  climber,  Silver  Moon  climb- 
er, and  Lace  Vine.  Yep,  all  in. 
Now,  old  man,'  she  smiled  kindly 
at  me,  'we'll  let  Nature  do  her 
stuff.' 

J  WASN'T  enthusiastic,  but  I 
was  curious,  naturally,  and  I 
kept  an  eye  on  those  plants,  and, 
sir,  in  no  time  they  were  sending 
up  green  shoots;  and  one  day  I 
looked  down  and  found  that  the 
Paul  Scarlet  had  crawled  up  and 
covered  an  old  wound  in  my  side. 
Then  I  began  to  hope.  A  few  days 
later  I  caught  the  bold  purple  wis- 
taria signaling  the  little  clematis  to 
meet  him  up  there  over  the  door 
just  as  she  Herself  had  planned, 
and  that  dainty  little  clematis  held 
on  to  me  with  one  hand  and 
waved  the  other  gayly  to  the  wis- 
taria— that  she'd  be  there,  and  she 
was  there,  too,  in  no  time.  The 
bittersweet  and  the  ivy,  and  the 
lace  vines,  and  all  the  roses,  too, 
while  seeming  to  be  swinging  idly* 
in  the  breeze,  were  creeping  rapidly 
up  my  sides,  covering  all  the  bad 


spots;  and  then  one  sparkling  June 
morning  after  a  night  of  warm 
showers,  I  found  myself  clothed 
from  the  ground  up  to  the  very 
top  of  my  head  in  the  most  beauti- 
ful of  all  the  garments  on  the 
ranch,  not  a  tatter  to  be  seen!  She, 
herself,  and  Mother  Nature  had 
outdone  Cinderella's  godmother, 
with  no  wand  at  all — just  a  gar- 
den spade!  Solomon  in  all  his 
glory  was  never  turned  out  as  I 
was,  and — but  well  you  saw  me, 
yourself!" 

The  Fir  nodded  grumpily.  He 
wasn't  given  to  compliments,  but 
he  had  to  admit  the  truth  of  the 
old-timer's  words. 

"Was  I  happy!"  the  old  man 
went  on,  with  no  encouragement 
from  the  fir  tree,  "but  the  greatest 
thrill — the  thrill  supreme— came 
later  in  the  season,  one  evening 
after  a  trying  hot  day  in  August. 

"I  was  pretty  well  spent,  and 
sort  o'  dreamily  watching  night 
take  possession  of  the  world. 
Thought  how  she  never  failed  to 
come,  and  how  she  always  seemed 
more  gentle  than  the  day,  crooning 
the  same  drowsy  sleepy  lullaby 
that  the  world  never  tires  of.  I 
watched  the  moon  peek  up  over 
the  firs  cautiously  and  then  as  if 
assured  by  someone  glide  confi- 
dently into  the  high  heavens.  I 
felt  the  cooling  breath  of  the  night 
breeze  and  was  just  ready  to  doze 
when  they  came,  hand  in  hand — 
Herself  and  Himself,  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  the  beautiful 
world! 

'Isn't  it  glorious,  dear?'  said 
Herself.  'It  was  done  by  me  and 
Mother  Nature — and  the  old  gar- 
den spade.'  Their  laughter  rang 
out  pleasantly,  not  disturbing  the 
night  in  the  least.  'Don't  you  love 
it,  dear?'  Herself  asked  Himself, 
speaking  of  me,  of  course,  and 
Himself  spoke  up  quickly — 

'It  certainly  is  glorious,  dear- 
est, but'  here  he  drew  her  into  his 
arms  and  his  lips  were  so  close  to 
her  ear  that  if  it  had  not  been  for 
the  night  breeze  relaying  his  words 
I  could  not  have  heard,  'it's  you 
I  love!'  " 


eviews 


"There  is  no  frigate  [ike  a  book 
to  bear  us  lands  away  .  .  .  ' 

— Emily   Dickinson 


By  BESS  STREETER  ALDRICH 

(D.  Appleton  Co.) 

TF  the  word  "wholesome"  were  in- 
terpreted  to  mean  only  that  which 
is  good  and  true  and  fine,  instead  of 
being  used  with  such  prodigal  frequen- 
cy to  describe  unpleasant  things  which 
are  good  for  people,  it  would  be  the 
term  to  apply  to  this  book.  A  sequel 
to  "A  Lantern  in  Her  Hand,"  it  takes 
up  the  Deal  family  soon  after  the  first 
book  left  them,  and  weaves  into  the 
fabric  of  their  various  lives  the  values 
which  are  strong  and  real,  with  such 
a  deft  touch  that  readers  find  the  pat- 
terns of  their  own  lives  changing  sub- 
tly. 

The  beauty  of  living  and  of  dying 
after  life  has  been  lived  beautifully 
is  the  quiet  theme  of  this  book,  which 
in  spite  of  its  simplicity,  touches 
upon  the  greatest  and  most  fundament- 
al of  human  experiences  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  an  indelible  and  lasting 
impression. 

Concerned  generally  with  all  the 
Deals,  it  is  specifically  the  story  of 
Laura  Deal,  the  twelve-year-old  grand 
daughter  of  Abbie  Deal,  who  some- 
how knew,  when  her  be-loved  grand- 
mother was  found  dead  alone  in  her 
house,  that  she  would  have  wanted  to 
be  alone,  with  only  the  memories  of 
her  pioneer  days,  her  little  children 
who  had  inexplicably  become  less 
hers  as  they  grew  older,  and  Will,  the 
husband  who  had  died  years  before,  yet 
never  lost  his  power  to  speak  to  her 
and  help  when  she  needed  him.  Laura 
knew  that  it  was  best — "just  doing 
it  yourself.  You  had  to  do  it  by 
yourself  anyway.  Nobody  could  help 
you  do  it;"  and  Laura  who  had  loved 
and  understood  her  grandmother, 
found  a  verse  which  the  old  lady  had 
pasted  in  her  scrap  book  recently  which 
described  her  feeling  about  her  grand- 
mother's death: 

"Pain  has  been  and  grief  enough  and  bit- 
terness and  crying, 
Sharp  ways  and  stony   ways  I   think   it 
was  she  trod. 


A  White  Bird  Flying 

But   all   there   is   to  see   now   is  a   white 
bird  flying, 

Whose   blood-stained   wings    go   circling 
high, — circling  up  to  God." 

Grandmother  had  had  such  a  hard 
life,  Laura  knew;  and  yet  she  had 
been  happier  than  most  people  whose 
lives  are  easy.  The  old  days  when 
Nebraska  was  a  barren  prairie,  when 
crops  were  destroyed  by  drought  and 
wind  and  grasshoppers,  those  days 
were  the  ones  which  Grandma  Deal 
had  loved  to  live  over  and  over  again. 
And  now  that  she  was  Igone,  old 
Os-Lutz  the  only  one  left  of  the  old 
Pioneers,  told  his  stories  of  the  early 
days.  He  would  take  a  pail  full  of 
vegetables  to  give  to  someone,  and 
then  tell  them  stories;  and  Laura  could 
never  understand  why  it  was  that  no- 
body except  herself  seemed  to  like  to 
hear  him.  They  joked  about  him 
behind  his  back,  and  groaned  when 
they  saw  him  coming.  But  Laura 
somehow  felt  that  the  stories  should 
be  heard,  and  remembered.  The  one 
thing  which  puzzled  her  was  his 
cheerfulness  in  contemplating  death. 
"Don't  fear  it,  not  a  mite,"  he  would 
say;  but  the  child  knew  that  he  did 
fear  a  long  drawn-out  illness.  He 
wanted  to  go  like  a  tree,  crashing  in 
the   wind. 

From  the  day,  soon  after  her  Abbie 
Deal's  funeral,  when  Laura  had  gone 
by  herself  to  walk  about  the  house, 
she  knew  that  she  must  do  something 
lovely  to  justify  her  grandmother's 
faith  in  her.  A  career  was  to  be  hers, 
and  nothing  must  interfere  with  it. 
Uncle  Harry  and  his  wife,  her  wealth- 
iest relatives,  were  willing  to  take  her 
as  their  own  child,  and  give  her  every 
opportunity  for  study  and  travel  which 
would  make  her  into  a  great  writer. 
The  fact  that  Allen  Rinemiller  (a 
grandson  of  the  old  friend  Rhein- 
miller)  fell  in  love  with  Laura  and 
wanted  her  to  marry  him  had  but 
a  momentary  influence  on  the  girl. 
She  felt  that  anyone  could  marry  and 


have    a    family — only    a    gifted    few 
could  have  careers. 

Driving  the  night  before  she  was 
to  go  to  Uncle  Harry  and  Aunt  Caro- 
lyn, and  begin  to  do  big  things,  she 
and  Allen  were  caught  in  a  terrific 
storm.  Lightning,  thunder,  rain  in 
sheets  and  wind  that  blew  like  fury 
all  combined  to  make  an  eerie  strange- 
ness which  frightened  her.  Driving 
fast  to  get  to  shelter,  the  two  of  them, 
in  a  flash  of  lightning,  saw  old  Oscar 
silhouetted  against  the  skyline  above 
a  hill,  arms  outstretched,  like  a  proph- 
et; and  a  giant  tree,  split  by  lightning, 
toppled  and  fell  on  him.  The  old  man 
had  gone  as  he  had  wanted  to  go — 
like  a  tree  in  the  wind.  Later  at  home 
and  in  bed,  Laura  realized  that  she 
was  facing  a  turn  in  the  road — that 
no  matter  what  else  life  has  to  offer, 
only  love  matters.  She  chose  Allen 
instead  of  the  possible  career,  and  in 
her  choice  she  found  happiness. 

Uncle  Harry,  not  lightly  to  be  flout- 
ed, left  to  Laura  in  his  will  the  sum  of 
one  dollar.  In  the  field  with  her  chil- 
dren one  day,  Laura  threw  the  money 
into  the  grass,  and  bade  the  little  ones 
find  the  most  valuable  thing  in  the 
pasture.  One  found  a  tree;  one  a 
meadow  lark,  and  one  found  the  baby 
who  had  run  out  at  the  critical  mo- 
ment. And  they  all  went  into  the 
house,  having  found  their  lovely 
things.  "And  the  sun  shone  and 
the  rain  fell.  .  .  .  And  Uncle  Harry 
Wentworth's  dollar  was  turned  deep 
under  the  sod.  But  though  the  sun 
shone  on  it  and  the  rain  fell,  nothing 
ever  came  from  it — not  a  green  thing 
nor  a  singing  thing  nor  a  human  soul." 

In  this  day  of  complicated  novels 
which  leave  the  reader  wondering 
what  is  worth-while,  after  all,  this 
book  "A  White  Bird  Flying"  comes 
with  dewy  freshness,  and,  though  al- 
most childishly  simple  in  places,  it  is 
strangely  unforgettable. 

— Elsie  T,  Brandley. 


558 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


By  ARTHUR  CHAPMAN 

(Putnam,  New  York  City) 

'TpHE  Pony  Express!  The  words 
have  romance  in  them,  for  what 
youth  has  not  glowed  with  excitement 
at  the  very  mention  of  the  fearless  men 
and  the  matchless  horses  that  whisked 
the  mail  over  2,000  miles  of  plains, 
mountains,  and  deserts  lying  between 
the  little  frontier  town,  St.  Joseph, 
on  the  Missouri  River,  and  the  already 
romantic  city,  San  Francisco? 

Beset  by  Indians,  hindered  by  rain 
and  snow  and  blizzards,  threatened 
by  raging  torrents  and  the  relentless 
deserts,  the  young  men,  who  "must 
not  weigh  more  than  120  pounds 
each"  tarried  the  mail,  themselves, 
and  even  their  horses  and  bosses  into 
immortality.  So  long  as  blood  flows 
red  and  print  is  readable  these  horses 
and  riders  pounding  over  lonely  wastes 
will  excite  the  imagination  of  young 
and  old  alike. 

Arthur  Chapman,  the  man  to 
whom  every  westener  should  be  grate- 
ful for  his  poem,  "Out  Where  the 
West  Begins,"  in  a  319  page  book, 
beautifully  printed  and  illustrated,  has 
made  the  Pony  Express  live  again. 
With  a  love  for  the  task  in  hand  mani- 
fest on  every  page,  Chapman  has  given 
us  no  mere  history — although  he  has 
given  us  an  authentic  history — but  a 
moving  drama  of  the  old  West.  He 
has  rounded  up  for  us  many  of  the 
characters     whose     biographies     have 


By  FRANCIS  PARKMAN 
(Junior  Literary  Guild) 

npHE  "mountain-men"  and  the  In- 
dians  have  come  into  their  own 
again.  In  all  the  reviews  and  on 
the  book-store  shelves  down-town  one. 
can  see  alluring  titles  about  the  red 
men,  and  the  whites  who  came  ad- 
venturing among  them  in  the  wild 
early  days  of  the  West.  Frank  B. 
Linderman  has  given  us  fine  books 
in  "American,"  and  "Old  Man  Coy- 
ote." Stewart  Edward  White  has 
given  us  "The  Long  Rifle,"  and  other 
writers  have  made  creditable  contri- 
butions. But  no  better  book  will 
ever  be  written  about  the  old  West 
than  Francis  Parkman's  "Oregon 
Trail." 

In  1846  Parkman  was  twenty-three 
years  old  and  just  out  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege. His  health  which  had  never 
been  good,  was  fast  failing  him,  and 
he  was  forced  to  abandon  his  research 
studies  in  American  history  in  order  to 
take  a  rest.     His  plan  of  recuperation 


The  Pony  Express 

made  the  true  story  of  the  West  and 
has  introduced  them  to  us  in  a  way 
that  makes  them  live  before  our  eyes. 
Among  these  are  men  like  Brigham 
Young,  Porter  Rockwell  and  others 
of  our  own  region,  as  well  as  many 
others. 

In  this  fascinating  tale  jwe  ,are 
brought  face  to  face  with  events 
which  brought  about  the  establishment 
of  the  Pony  Express,  and  then  in  a 
few  stirring  chapters  we  are  made  to 
see  the  heroism,  the  courage,  the 
stamina  of  the  men  who  made  the  im- 
possible come  true. 

Salt  Lake  City,  the  Deseret  News, 
Mormon  express  riders,  are  frequently 
mentioned,  for  the  "City  of  the 
Saints"  was  a  key  city  and  some  of 
the  Mormon  pioneers  were  important 
in  the  establishment  and  success  of 
the  Pony  Express,  as  they  were  in 
every  important  movement  in  those 
early  days. 

In  this  well  documented  history  of 
an  important  movement,  Mr.  Chap- 
man reveals  something  of  the  strug- 
gle a  new  nation  was  having  with  an 
unwieldy  territory  which  senators  and 
congressmen  were  loathe  to  claim.  He 
tells  of  some  famous  rides  by  famous 
horsemen  which  foreshadowed  the 
"Pony;"  some  battles  among  whites 
and  between  whites  and  Indians  which 
had  far-reaching  effects  upon  the  pro- 
ject; of  a  time  when  Uncle  Sam 
purchased  camels  for  the  "great  Amer- 
ican desert;"  and  of  the  final  abandon- 

The  Oregon  Trail 

would  have  shocked  anyone  else  to 
death.  He  decided  to  go  westward  on 
the  Oregon  Trail  and  live  with  the 
Indians  for  a  season.  We  Mormons, 
who  have  been  accustomed  to  hearing 
the  tales  of  hardship  endured  by  our 
grandfathers  on  that  trail,  know  what 
he  went  through.  But  Parkman  had 
an  ulterior  motive  in  his  rest-cure. 
For  several  years  he  had  lived  wtth 
the  idea  of  writing  the  history  of  the 
French  and  Indian  Wars.  Such  a  his- 
tory would  involve  much  knowledge 
of  the  forest  and  the  broader  concept 
of  writing  the  history  of  the  American 
Forest  had  gradually  taken  hold  of  the 
young  man's  imagination.  When  a 
breakdown  made  library  study  no 
longer  possible,  he  resolved  to  go  West 
where  he  could  find  Indians  whose  cul- 
ture was  practically  identical  with  that 
of  the  Indians  who  had  inhabited  the 
forests  of  the  East  during  the  early 
American  wars.  Consequently  he  set 
out  up  the  Missouri  River  in  the  spring 
of  1846  accompanied  by  his  cousin 
and  a  fine  young  (French-Canadian 
guide. 


ment  of  the  shuttle  of  horseflesh  which 
held  a  loosely  knit  nation  together. 

"The  Pony  Express"  is  a  book  that 
any  westerner  is  likely  to  enjoy  im- 
mensely. From  it  he  will  obtain 
knowledge  of  the  type  of  manhood  and 
courage  which  made  America,  as  we 
have  dreamed  it,  possible. 

In  his  concluding  paragraphs,  Mr. 
Chapman  has  this  to  say: 

"The  Pony  Express  was  the  great- 
est school  of  horsemanship  ever  de- 
veloped. .  .  .  The  men  of  the  "Pony" 
established  records  for  endurance  in  the 
saddle  which  will  remain  unequaled 
for  all  time.  .  .  ,  Their  so-called  'po- 
nies' were  anything  but  such  in  reality 
— powerful  animals,  clean  of  limb, 
deep  of  lung,  and  'outlaw'  in  dispo- 
sition. Only  resilient  youths,  born 
to  the  saddle,  could  have  ridden  such 
animals  at  top  speed  day  after  day. 

"The  clattering  hoofs  of  the  'Pony,' 
and  the  sound  of  the  rider's  horn, 
aroused    echoes    which    never   can   be 

stilled." 

On  April  3,  1 860,  a  horse  and  rider 
shot  out  of  the  little  frontier  town, 
St.  Joseph,  on  the  Missouri  river,  car- 
rying mail  for  the  West  and  on  the 
same  day  a  "Pony"  left  San  Francisco 
for  the  East — a  new  fast  mail  was  es- 
tablished. "The  Express"  lost  fortunes 
and  lasted  only  a  few  months,  but  it 
got  the  mail  through,  and  in  so  doing 
paved  the  way  for  other  American 
achievements. — H.  R.  Merrill. 


The  descriptions  of  the  life  on  the 
prairie,  the  great  storms,  the  difficult 
travel,  the  herds  of  buffalo,  the  no- 
madic Indian  bands  are  all  great  liter- 
ature. No  other  writer  has  captured 
the  spirit  of  primitive  America  so 
successfully.  Every  page  bristles  with 
detail  and  yet  the  details  are  combined 
in  such  a  way  as  to  give  big  impres- 
sions and  create  atmosphere. 

At  Fort  Laramie  Parkman  joined 
the  Whirlwind's  band  of  pgillalah 
Sioux  and  followed  the  savages 
throughout  their  summer  wanderings, 
up  through  the  terrible  Black  Hills 
and  back  again,  ever  hoping  for  an 
opportunity  to  go  on  the  war-path 
with  them.  They  never  went  to  war, 
but  Parkman  filled  his  pages  with  fas- 
cinating pictures  of  Indian  daily  life. 
The  many  stories  of  Indian  cunning 
and  bravery,  which  occur  incidentally 
are  enough  to  satisfy  the  heart  of  any 
boy  reader.  But  there  are  also  pass- 
ages which  reveal  the  nobility  of  In- 
dian character  and  give  balance  to  the 
narrative.  I  quote  what  is  perhaps  the 
(Continued  on  page  566) 


Prairie  Stars 

Mrs.  Pearl  Riggs  Crouch 

\\/ HEN  sunset  torches  light  the  stars 
'  *  Over  the  prairie  wide, 

Cares  of  the  day  are  swept  away 
On  twilight's  purpling  tide. 

A  myriad  twinkling,  merry  eyes 
Smile  back  when  I  lift  my  own, 

And  overtones  of  beauty  sing 
By  lilting  dusk-winds  blown. 

Though    weary    days    may    stretch    theii 
length 

Over  the  lonely  plain, 
Always  my  heart  grows  strong  and  gay 

When  stars  are  lit  again! 


Night  on  Timpanogos 

By  Andrew  M.  Anderson 

\7 ENERABLE    mountain,    glorious    in 

"      moonlight; 
I  am  heeding  your  urge 
And  letting  your  spirit  lead  me  upward. 

You  have  invited  me  to  be  your  guest 

At  night.  Your  gentle  winds  have  whis- 
pered 

Of  banquets  of  rare  beauty,  spread  in  your 
halls 

Of  immense  spaces. 

Onward  with  me  moves  the  sky 
Above   the  silver   mysteries  of   the  aspen 
trail. 

Incense  carried  by  a  timid  breeze 

Is  borne  from  fields  of  sainted  columbine. 

The  moon,  curved  like  the  petal  of  a 
flower, 

Hides  for  an  instant,  while  a  tinted  rain- 
cloud 

Cools  my  brow. 

Thin  echoes  of  innumerable  water  falls, 
Dropping  into  shafts  of  shadow,  enchant 
the  silences. 

Great  cirques,  stand  back  politely,  and  let 

the  stars 
Steal   modest   glimpses   into    your   hidden 

lakes, 
Fringed  with  lacy  borders  of  eternal  snow. 

Your  Alpine  glacier  stretches  to  the  moon, 
A   ghostly   sheet   spread   by  some   ancient 

Norn  mother, 
And  freshly  washed  by  showers  and  starch- 
ed by  midnight  frosts. 

Upon  your  heights — 

Snows  of  the  glacier  blend  with  mists  of 

air 
Suspending  me  in  space. 

Here  so  near  the  stars 

That   I   could    reach    up   with   my   hands 

and  brush  them  by — 
Here  in  ultimate  peace — supreme  beauty — 
I  feel  akin  to  God. 


New  York  Churchyard 

By  John  G.  Whidding 

J-JERE,  where  towering  marts  of  trade 
'  ■*•       Loud  to  the  heavens  cry, 
Wayfarers  find  worn  tombstones  laid 
Where  numbered  hundreds  lie. 

Dust  that  is  dust  to  dust  returns. 

Death,  the  enduring  fact, 
Conquers  all  life,  entreaties  spurns, 

And  late  or  soon  shall  act. 

Here  the  released,  and  here  the  serf, 

Lost  in  his  fevered  thought, 
Heedlessly  passes  stone-strewn  turf, 

Dreaming  of  plans  ill- wrought. 

Cycles  persist,  and  time  gives  way — 

Earth  is  a  fleeting  dream. 
Heaven  is  nearer,  day  by  day — 

Life  is  a  seaward  stream. 

Mortals  who  toiled  lie  here  at  rest 
Deep  in  the  chambered  ground, 

Waiting  the  Day  when  God  shall  test 
Their  worth,  at  trumpet  sound. 

Ye  who  upon  these  markers  chance, 

Pause,  and  remember  ye 
Holiest  words  as  years  advance : 

"Cross-bearers,  follow  Me." 

Toil  as  ye  may,  Death  covers  all — 

Fame  is  an  earthly  prize. 
Monuments  crumble;   tablets  fall 

Beneath  eternal  skies. 


Longing 

By  Clara  Peterson 

TF  I  could  see  your  smile  once  more, 
■*     And  feel  the  pressure  of  your  hand, 
And  read  a  message  in  your  eyes, 
Just  these  two  words — "I  understand," 
I'd  know  that  life  is  still  worth  while, 
That  I  can  fight  this  battle  through, 
Because  one  still  has  faith  in  me, 
Because  that  one  who  cares  is  you. 

But  no,  you  cannot  come  to  me, 
Until  I've  fought  my  fight  and  won. 
The  things  that  you  would  have  me  do 
Too  often  have  remained  undone. 
But  I  will  fight  courageously 
And  hope  some  day  to  take  your  hand. 
And  read  approval  in  your  eyes, 
And  hear  you  say — "I  understand." 


Prairie  Yearning 

By  Mrs.  Pearl  Riggs  Crouch 
(~)H,  for  a  tree  when  my  heart  yearns 

Sr         out 

Over  the  reaching  dry-land  plain! 
The  muted  symphony  of  leaves 
The  croon  of  nesting  birds  again! 

A  tree,   whose  gracious,  spreading  boughs 
Give    dewy    shade    from    the    noonday 
sun! 

A  tree  to  chant  a  vesper  hymn 

When  the  dragging  prairie  day  is  done! 

Only  a  leafy,  swaying  tree 

In  the  silver  slant  of  summer  rain  .  . 
My    heart    would    sing    with   a    thousand 
hopes 
Here     on     the     reaching,     wind-swept 
plain! 


*»e53to*- 


Reincarnated 

By  Ardyth  Kennelly 

C"  HE  has  borne  tall  silver  vases 
*-'    On  her  head,  and  her  arms  were  ivory. 
She  has  sung  in  gardens,  and  her  mouth 
Was  a  red  flower  in  the  dusk. 
She  has  danced,  and  her  feet  were 
Two  white  doves  in  the  sand. 
Her  body  was  a  white  thing — a  poem 
Of  whiteness  like  a  lily  .  .  . 
She  has  had  love  flung  about  her 
Like  a  cloak  of  peacock  feathers. 
She  has  lain  still  in  the  dark 
With  candles  at  her  head  and  feet. 

Today  she  bought  some  yellow  dye 
For  her  bedroom  curtains. 
Today  she  priced  Russian  pottery 
And  searched  through  a  cookbook 
For  a  new  recipe  for  fruit  cake. 
Today  she  washed  her  hair 
And  dried  it  in  the  sun. 


-^eo^Vs*- 


Tribute 

By  Merling  D.  Clyde 

(jH,   Pioneers,   in  all  you  found  to  do 

>*^    You  builded  better  than  you  knew; 

For  guided  by  the  Architect  supreme 

The  desert  lands  became  a  golden  dream. 

You   started  churches,   schools,   and   tilled 

the  soil, 
Each   disappointing  year  but  challenge  to 

your  toil. 
With  spirit  that  undaunted  saw  afar, 
With   faith  in  God  an  ever  guiding  star, 
This  empire  that  you  founded  yields 
A  monument  to  all  your  high  ideals. 

Your  parentage,   your  teachings  so  divine 
Became  this  heritage  of  mine. 
Entrusted  now  to  me  I  only  ask 
That  I  prove  worthy  of  this  sacred  task 
To   carry  on,   with  eager,   faithful  hands, 
Oh,     Mother,     Father,    of    these    western 

lands; 
And  if  the  world  shall  find  my  standards 

true, 
In  humbleness  all  grace  I  give  to  you. 


CHURCH  MUSIC  COMMITTEE 


The  Speed  of  Religious  Songs 


OPEED,  or  tempo,  has  much  to  do 
^  with  expression  in  song.  While 
it  is  very  important  in  solo  singing, 
it  is  not  so  difficult  to  regulate  there, 
because  performance  is  a  matter  of  i* 
dividual  taste;  whereas  in  group  per- 
formance, especially  in  groups  made  up 
of  differing  ages  and  ability  and  ex- 
perience, such  as  a  church  congrega- 
tion, it  should  be  a  matter  of  careful 
consideration  because  of  so  many  in- 
fluences  which   may   work   upon   it. 

Latter-day  Saint  congregations  are 
generally  heterogeneous  groups,  made 
up  of  persons  descending  from  many 
tongues,  cultures  and  traditions.  Espe- 
cially among  the  older  members  may 
be  found  men  and  women  who  have 
worshiped  in  the  churches  of  other 
lands,  and  naturally  these  lean  toward 
singing  as  they  were  taught  while 
growing  up.  Then  there  is  the  vigor- 
ous, youthful  part  of  the  congregation 
who  have  no  standards  or  traditions 
beyond  their  limited  experience  in  the 
ward  community.  Successful  congre- 
gational singing  must  take  these  con- 
ditions into  consideration,  because  the 
degree  of  speed  in  congregational  sing 
ing  is  most  important,  and  speed  is  af- 
fected by  this  varying  character  of 
our  Church  membership. 

Correctly  speaking,  tempo  is  deter- 
mined in  a  hymn  by  the  content  of  the 
poem.  That  is  more  easily  said  than 
realized.  No  two  persons  feel  emotion 
in  the  same  degree,  and  neither  will 
they  interpret  a  poem  alike.  The  ex- 
perienced leader  has  found  that  there 
is  a  tempo  inherent  in  each  hymn,  and 
this  tempo  is  the  correct  one.  But 
how  is  this  natural  tempo  to  be  dis- 
covered? We  may  answer,  By  study- 
ing everything  about  the  song,  to  de- 
termine the  true  meaning  of  the  words, 
first  of  all,  and  by  practicing  it  in  its 
different  conceptions.  There  can  be 
no  denying  the  fact  that  in  our  congre- 
gations the  tendency  is  to  sing  too  fasl . 
Many  of  our  presiding  brethren,  espe- 
cially those  who  have  had  experience 
in  the  worship  of  foreign  churches,  are 
continually  complaining  about  the  un- 
due speed  often  used  in  our  congre- 
gational songs. 

No  doubt  the  frequent  use  we  make 
of  music  in  all  kinds  of  activity,  di- 
rected in  many  instances  by  the  same 
persons,  is  one  cause  for  this  extreme. 
In   the   organizations   of   the   children 


By  Edward  P.  Kimball 

and  the  young  men  and  women,  the 
type  of  music  used,  especially  songs,  is 
of  a  character  quite  generally  opposed 
to  the  character  of  our  worship  songs. 
Especially  :the  ireqreation  songs  and 
those  of  gladness  which  youth  so  loves 
to  sing  are  lively,  both  in  content  and 
performance.  When  these  songs  are 
directed  by  the  same  persons  who  di- 
rect the  congregational  songs  in  the 
Sacrament  meeting,  it  is  not  always 
evident  that  the  leader  gives  much 
thought  to  any  difference  in  either  the 
character  of  the  songs  or  the  occa- 
sion. The  impression  seems  to  pre- 
vail that  a  song  must  be  taken  at  a 
lively  speed  in  order  to  be  sung  with 
spirit. 

Those  leaders  who  direct  all  the 
singing  in  a  ward  would  do  well  to 
think  about  this  proposition.  Would 
there  be  no  difference  in  the  singing 
of  "We  Thank  Thee,  O  God,  for  a 
Prophet,"  and  "Gladly  meeting  V 
They  are  both  songs  of  gladness,  but 
is  there  not  a  difference  in  content 
which  would  compel  two  kinds  of 
expression 


? 


In  the  "Latter-day  Saint  Hymns," 
which  is  now  quite  generally  used  by 
the  Church,  the  chorister  is  given  di- 
rect suggestion  as  to  speed  in  every 
hymn.  At  the  beginning  of  each  song 
will  be  found  figures  like  this.  ( J 
=  80).  This  is  called  the  metronome 
sign.  It  means  that  if  the  little  weight 
on  the  metronome  is  set  at  eighty  the 


Old  Glory  Wave  On 

By  Grace  Jacobsen 

(~\LD  Glory  wave  on 
^-^   Over  our  own  troubled  land ; 
Speak  thy  message  of  courage  anew. 
From  mountain  and  plain 
We  hail  thee  again, 
Loyal  and  faithful  to  you. 

Old  Glory  wave  on 

Keep  our  hearts  firm  and'  true; 

Lifted  up  from   the  storm  and   the  strife. 
Give  us  hope  to  press  on 
Through  the  strife  and  the  storm. 

For  peace  and  the  blessings  of  life. 

Old  Glory  wave  on 
Spread  thy  folds  to  the  breeze : 
Brood  over  Columbia's  domain. 

Let  freedom  and  right 

Triumph  in  their  might. 
And  claim  our  allegiance  again. 


machine  will  tick  one  tick  for  each 
quarter  note;  or  in  other  words,  it 
means  eighty  quarter  notes  to  the  min- 
ute, as  the  mechanism  of  the  metro- 
nome is  so  regulated.  Of  course  the 
chorister  will  not  always  have  access 
to  a  metronome,  but  he  can  figure 
approximately  the  speed  indicated  if 
he  will  remember  that  a  column  of 
men  marching  briskly  in  parade,  as  for 
example,  the  U.  S.  army,  steps  at  the 
rate  of  120  quarter  notes  per  minute. 
In  the  hymn  book  these  metronome 
marks  were  given  by  the  composers 
themselves  wherever  these  were  ob- 
tainable; and  where  it  was  not  possible 
to  secure  them  from  the  composer, 
principally  because  they  no  longer 
lived,  they  were  determined  by  the 
Church  Music  Committee  members 
who  had  long  years  of  experience  and, 
in  many  instances,  had  directed  or 
sung  the  songs  in  company  with  the 
composers,  thus  knowing  what  they 
desired  relative  to  their  composition. 
While  these  marks  are  not  ironclad, 
the  director  will  do  well  to  observe 
them  quite  closely. 

There  are  some  things  which  may 
cause  variation  in  the  speed  indicated. 
One  is  the  size  of  the  group  and  the 
building.  A  congregation  in  the  Ta- 
bernacle cannot  be  moved  with  the 
same  facility  as  one  in  a  small  ward 
house.  The  most  reasonable  variety 
will  be  in  the  direction  of  slowing 
the  tempo — rarely  in  increasing  the 
speed.  The  main  reason  why  some 
persons  like  to  sing  fast  is  because  they 
have  always  done  it  that  way.  Cer- 
tainly the  composer  knows  better  than 
anyone  else  how  fast  his  hymn  should 
be  taken. 

The  Lord  has  declared  to  Latter- 
day  Saints  that  the  songs  of  the  right- 
eous are  a  prayer  unto  Him,  and  that 
He  will  answer  them  with  blessings  on 
their  heads.  If  our  song  is  to  be  a 
prayer  it  must  be  first  of  all  spoken 
with  full  realization  of  what  the  poem 
says;  song  is  merely  glorified  speech. 
and  speaking  and  understanding  are 
the  first  requisites  in  singing,  and  espe- 
cially in  singing  that  is  done  in  the 
service  of  God.  If  leaders  will  come 
to  realize  this  truth  they  will  not 
have  much  difficulty  in  establishing 
correct  speed  in  the  hymns,  and  the 
criticism  so  frequent  and  justly  direct- 
ed at  singing  that  is  too  rapid  will  be 
less  and  less  justified. 


^Aaronic  Priesthood 

Aaronic  Priesthood  Shows  Phenomenal  Gains 


Correlation  and  Supervisors 
Campaigns  Bring  Excellent 
Results 

/^\NE  of  the  most  gratifying  reports 
^-^  to  be  issued  from  the  Presiding 
Bishop's  Office  in  a  long  time  is  the 
report  of  attendance  at  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood at  quorum  meetings  during  the 
month  of  May.  So  unusual  were  the 
gains  made  over  the  corresponding 
month  of  1931  that  a  special  bulletin 
was  issued  in  appreciation  and  com- 
mendation to  stake  and  ward  officers 
who  were  responsible  for  the  splendid 
results  indicated  in  the  report.  The 
reports  show  that  in  May  of  1931 
the  average  attendance  of  Aaronic 
Priesthood  members  at  their  quorum 
meetings  was  20%.  In  May  of  1932 
it  was  24%.  This  represents  a  gain  of 
25%.  In  terms  of  members  it  means 
that  2800  more  young  men  through- 
out the  Church  attended  their  quorum 
meetings  in  May  of  this  year  than  in 
May  of  1931. 

The  special  bulletin  issued  by  the 
Presiding  Bishop's  Office  contains  the 
following  detailed  information: 

Six  Stakes  showed  a  gain  of  100% 
or  more  over  May,  1931 — Morgan, 
North  Sanpete,  Panguitch,  Parowan, 
Portneuf  and  Wayne.  Three  stakes 
gained  75%  or  more — Bear  River, 
Box  Elder  and  Idaho.  Four  gained 
50%  or  more — Benson,  East  Jordan, 
Tintic  and  Tooele.  Sixty-eight  stakes 
made  some  gain.  This  response  to  the 
program  of  increased  activity  of  the 
Aaronic  Priesthood,  especially  in  the 
summer  months  is  appreciated. 

The  following  stakes  had  the  same 
attendance  as  in  May  of  last  year: 
Beaver  19,  Cache  30,  Deseret  26, 
Granite  36,  Moroni  9,  Oquirrh  17, 
Palmyra  23,  San  Luis  20,  Timpan- 
ogos  26,  Twin  Falls  19.  Only  31 
stakes  showed  losses.  Some  of  these, 
unfortunately,  were  rather  serious.  We 
hope  to  see  all  stakes  make  gains  for 
June. 

The  following  figures  show  the 
gains  made: 


1931  1932 

Gunnison    12  14 

Hollywood    3  6  37 

Hyrum    8  11 

Idaho    16  27 

Idaho  Falls  21  23 

Kanab  10  11 

Kolob   16  22 

Lehi    23  25 

Liberty    29  30 

Logan  20  23 

Los  Angeles  30  36 

Lyman    15  18 

Malad   20  24 

Millard    17  19 

Montpelier    16  21 

Morgan  9  25 

Mount  Ogden  25  29 

Nebo  20  22 

North  Davis  21  28 

North  Sanpete  7  15 

North  Sevier  11  15 

North  Weber 19  27 

Ogden  27  31 

Oneida    34  36 

Panguitch    8  16 

Parowan   5  11 

Pocatello  19  30 

Portneuf  8  18 

Roosevelt     8  12 

St.  George  15  21 

St.  Joseph  27  33 

San    Juan    19  21 

Sharon    19  25 

Snowflake   20  21 

South  Davis  29  30 

South  Sanpete  11  17 

South  Sevier  17  21 

Star  Valley  24  30 

Summit  15  18 

Tintic  8  13 

Tooele    7  1 1 

Uintah    16  19 

Utah  22  25 

Wayne     7  15 

Weber  19  26 

Zion  Park 15  25 


Bear  Lake  

Bear   River       

Benson    -    - 

Blackfoot    

Blaine  

Box  Elder 

Burley     —        

1931 

24 

15 

17 

10 

24 

13 

17 

1932       ■ 

25        % 
28        ■ 

24      m 

12          ft 

25           1 

23            1 

21 

11 

16 

31 

20 

28 

30 

Curlew     . 

8 

Duchesne  

12 

East   Jordan 
Ensign         -  -   -    . 

19 

18 

Franklin   

26 

Grant    . 

29 

David  Whitmer 

Sixteen  Stakes  Stay  in  30% 
Group  in  May 

'  I  SHE  chart  printed  in,,  the  Aaronic 
A  Priesthood  department  of  the  Im- 
provement Era  for  January  indicated 
the  serious  decrease  in  attendance  at 
Aaronic  Priesthood  meetings  with  the 
coming  of  the  spring  and  summer 
months  of  previous  years.  In  an  ef- 
fort to  prevent  this  decline  in  activity 
the  Presiding  Bishopric  has  carried  on 
a  campaign  for  the  past  five  years, 
urging  stake  and  ward  officers  to  use 
every  possible  means  to  keep  young 
men  of  the  Priesthood  interested.  The 
list  of  stakes  showing  attendance  of 
30%  or  better  during  May  contains 
sixteen  names  which  is  unusual  for 
that  month.  It  reflects  the  improve- 
ment in  Aaronic  Priesthood  activity 
throughout  the  entire  Church.  The 
stakes  showing  attendance  of  30%  or 
more  during  May  and  the  percentage 
of  attendance  are  Alberta  40%,  Holly- 
wood 37%,  Los  Angeles  36%,  Oneida 
36%,  Granite  36%,  Juarez  34%,  St. 
Joseph  33%,  Taylor  32%,  Ogden 
31%,  East  Jordan  31%,  Star  Valley 
30%,  Cache  30%,  Grant  30%,  Lib- 
erty 30%,  South  Davis  30%,  Pocatello 
30%. 

With  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  su- 
pervision plan  suggested  by  the  Pre- 
siding Bishopric  being  made  effective 
throughout  the  Church  and  Correla- 
tion Committees  beginning  operations 
in  an  efficient  manner  it  is  hoped  that 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  no 
stake  will  have  less  than  30%  aver- 
age attendance  and  many  stakes  will 
reach  the  50%   class. 

Quiz  for  Aaronic  Priesthood 
Supervisors 

"True-false"  test  of  knowledge  of 
principles  of  leadership.  Arranged  by 
H.  Eugene  Hughes  of  Palmyra  Stake 
for  use  at  meetings  of  Stake  and  Ward 
Supervisors  of  Aaronic  Priesthood  in 
that  Stake. 

(Mark  OK  for  true  and  X  for  false 
statements) : 

OK — There  is  no  more  important 
work  now  before  us  in  the 
Church  than  that  of  directing 
and  supervising  the  energies  of 
the  boys  of  today,  who  are  to 
become  the  future  leaders. 

OK — We  need  not  be  brilliant  to 
reach  boys  and  lead  them  on, 
but  we  must  have  an  under- 
standing  heart. 


562 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


X — A  man  that  uses  tobacco  and 
bad  language  makes  a  good  su- 
pervisor providing  the  boys  have 
a  liking  for  him. 
X — We  do  not  have  to  use  effort  to 
make  the  Priesthood  popular: 
it  will  take  care  of  itself. 

OK — We  should  give  personal  con- 
tact to  every  boy  in  our  par- 
ticular division  and  follow  him 
through  Sunday  School,  Priest- 
hood, and  the  M.  I.  A.  activities. 

OK — The  auxiliaries  of  the  Church 
were  instituted  for  the  purpose 
of  training  boys  and  bringing 
them  into  active  service  in  the 
Priesthood. 

OK — Missionary  service  is  the  key- 
note to  the  success  of  the  work: 
through  it  the  supervisor  gives 
personal  contact  to  the  boy  in 
his  home,  gives  encouragement 
and  solicits  cooperation  of  the 
parents. 
X — A  good  supervisor  will  attend 
to  all  the  business  of  the  meet- 
ing, make  assignments,  take  the 
minutes,  and  give  the  lesson. 
X — A  supervisor's  time  is  so  taken 
up  with  giving  instruction  to 
the  boys  that  he  can't  attend 
to  a  weekly  committee  meeting. 

OK — The  supervisors  of  priests  and 
teachers  can  help  very  much  in 
carrying  on  a  successful  ward 
teaching  campaign. 

OK — We  must  encourage  a  fraternal 
feeling  in  the  quorum  if  we  ex- 
pect to  build  up  quorum  identi- 
ty and  strengthen  the  bond  of 
brotherly  love. 
X — It  isn't  necessary  to  arrange 
hikes,  outings,  and  socials,  be- 
cause boys  do  not  like  this  kind 
of  recreation. 
X — We  need  not  explain  the  Priest- 


Martin  Harris 

hood  and  the  purpose  of  the 
Priesthood  to  a  prospective 
candidate. 

X — Supervisors  have  no  right  to 
make  recommendations  to  the 
Bishopric  pertaining  to  changes 
in  leadership  in  quorums,  ad- 
vancements, and  assignments. 

X — The  Stake  Clerk  can  make  his 
reports  to  the  Presiding  Bishop- 
ric, so  it  isn't  necessary  for  him 
to  have  a  report  monthly  from 
the  Stake  Aaronic  Priesthood 
committee.  The  Stake  Secretary 
can  make  out  his  report  with- 
out any  reports  coming  in  from 
ward  committees  as  they  have 
contact  with  every  boy  in  the 
stake  and  know  just  what  they 
are  doing. 


OK — The  program  of  a  quorum  meet- 
ing should  be  short  and  varied, 
objectives  should  be  set  up  and 
part  of  time  given  in  planning 
the  future  of  the  quorum. 

OK — A  wise  supervisor  will  consult 
the  boys  on  what  they  would 
like  to  put  over  as  a  project  as 
boys  like  to  help  plan  their 
objectives. 

OK — Noise  with  boys  is  natural  en- 
ergy and  should  be  directed  into 
right  channels  through  a  pro- 
gram  of  action. 

X — It  isn't  necessary  to  use  the  les- 
son outlines  recommended  by 
the  Presiding  Bishopric  because 
anything  that  will  amuse  boys 
is  better  than  an  organized  plan 
of  instruction. 
OK — Actions  can  be  guided  into  con- 
structive learning,  so  through 
our  instruction  of  lessons  we 
should  strive  to  get  a  response 
from  the  boys  to  the  faith-pro- 
moting incidents  connected  with 
the  lesson,  or  their  own  lives. 

OK — Boys  should  depend  upon  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  to  give  them 
vision,  understanding,  and  the 
right  attitude  toward  life  and 
its  responsibilities,  so  encourage 
them  to  pray,  as  prayer  clears 
the  channel  so  that  the  spirit 
can  flow  in. 

OK — Spirituality  is  the  vital  force 
connected  with  Priesthood  train- 
ing, so  we  need  spiritual-minded 
men  for  instructors  and  super- 
visors. 

OK — A  supervisor  should  have  faith, 
should  have  love  for  the  boy 
and  his  problems,  should  not 
be  afraid  of  work  and  a  few 
necessary  business  meetings. 


Books  for  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood  Workers 

PHE     three     booklets    shown    here      Improvement  Era,  but  as  soon  as  the      rial  which  will  assist  ward  leaders  and 
constitute  the  kit  for  the  workers      book  became  available  in  printed  form,      committees  with  their  work  will  be  a- 


in   the   Elders',    Seventies',    and   High 

Priests'  Quorums  of  the  Church.  All  of 

them    may    be    had 

from    the    Deseret 

Book  Company,  Salt 

Lake     City,      Utah. 

Mail   orders   will   be 

filled  promptly.  Price 

10c  each. 

The  books  are,  "In 
the  kealm  of  Quor- 
um Activity,"  "In 
the  Realm  of  Quor- 
um Activity,"  series 
two,  and  "Supple- 
ment to  'In  the 
Realm  of  Quorum 
Activity.'  "  '  The 
last  named  book  is 
just  off  the  press. 

Material  from  the 
"Supplement"  ,w  a  s 
run   in  issues  of  the 


the  publication  of  extracts  on  this  page      vailable  on  this  page.  In  addition  there 
was  discontinued.  From  now  on  mate-       will  be  notes  from  the  field  showing 

whatvariouscommit- 
tees  throughout  the 
Church  are  doing,  in 
order  that  other  com- 
mittees may  obtain 
useful  ideas  regarding 
methods  of  service. 
Ward  leaders, 
presidents  of  the 
various  quorums, 
committee  chairmen 
and  members,  and  all 
others  who  can  af- 
ford these  three 
books  should  have 
them  in  their  pos- 
session. They  con- 
tain outlines  which 
will  aid  greatly  in 
carrying  on  the  work 
of  the  quorums. 


MUTUAL  MESSAGES 


General  Superintendence 
Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 

GEORGE  ALBERT  SMITH, 
RICHARD  R.  LYMAN, 
MELVIN  J.  BALLARD, 


iExecutive  Secretary: 
OSCAR  A. 


KIRKHAM 


— I  Executive  'Department^ 

Send  all  Correspondence  to  Committees  Direct  to  General  Offices 

General  Offices  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 

47  EAST  SOUTH  TEMPLE  STREET 

General  Offices  Y.  L.  M.  I.  A. 

33    BISHOP'S   BUILDING 
SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


General  Presidency 
Y.  L.  M.  I.  A. 

RUTH  MAY  FOX, 
LUCY  GRANT  CANNON, 
CLARISSA  A.  BEESLEY, 

General  Secretary: 

ELSIE  HOGAN 


Sunday  Evening  Joint  Session 
for  August 

General  Theme— Pioneering  o  f 
Yesterday. 

1.  Singing — "Come,  Come  Ye 
Saints." 

2.  Prayer — By  a  Pioneer. 

3.  Solo,  duet,  or  quartet — "What 
Shall  the  Harvest  Be,"  "Unanswered 
Yet,"  "Cast  Your  Bread  Upon  the 
Waters,"  or  some  similar  hymn. 

4.  The  Slogan. 

5.  Solo  or  duet — "When  You  and 
I  Were  Young,  Maggie,"  or  a  similar, 
suitable  song. 

6.  Twelve  Minute  Talk — "Pio- 
neering in  My  Community,"  by  a  pio- 
neer of  the  ward.  (If  a  pioneer  who 
can  make  an  interesting  talk  is  not 
available,  then  a  mutual  man  or 
woman  could  interview  the  pioneers 
and  give  the  talk.) 

a.  The  first  house. 

b.  The  early  mail  system. 

c.  The  first  bishop  and  place  of 
meeting. 

d.  The  first  school  and  school 
teacher. 

e.  The  first  organ  or  piano. 

f.  How     roads,     bridges,     canals 

were  financed  and  built. 

g.  Methods  of  paying  tithing, 
fast  offering,  and  ward  main- 
tenance. 

h.  The  method  and  time  of  fast- 
ing, etc.,  etc. 

i.  Early  day  ward  reunions,  spirit 
of  the  home,  and  helpfulness. 

7.  Solo,  duet,  or  quartette  with  the 
congregation  singing  the  chorus — 
"Hard  Times,  Come  Again  No  More." 

8.  Reading — '"The  First  Settler's 
Story,"  "Pioneers,  O,  Pioneers,"  or  a 
similar  reading. 

9.  Twelve  minute  talk  or  less — 
"Tribute  to  all  Pioneers  of  Yester- 
day." 

10.  Singing — '  Doxology." 


Rexburg  First  Ward  M.  I.  A. 
Chorus 

^pHE  Rexburg  First  Ward  M.  I.  A. 
*■  Chorus  has  completed  its  second 
season  as  a  musical  organization.  It 
has  a  membership  of  approximately 
one  hundred  and  thirty  people,  the 
youngest  being  13  years  of  age.  All 
of  the  members  are  bona  fide  members 
of  the  M.  I.  A.  of  the  ward,  the  chorus 
including  about  18%%  of  the  total 
ward  membership,  and  about  one- 
fourth  of  the  ward  members  of  M.-I. 
A.  age.  Concerts  have  been  given  to 
raise  funds  to  purchase  music,  and  the 
idea  that  everyone  who  wants  to  sing 
can  sing  is  the  underlying  philosophy 
of  the  organization.  Individuals  who 
have  never  sung  in  a  group  before  have 
joined  and  become  important  and  val- 
uable additions  to  the  chorus.  Lewis 
A.  Lee,  the  director  who  has  been  tire- 
less in  effecting  the  organization  and 
training  the  singers,  has  several  points 
which  he  considers  vital  to  the  success 
of  such  an  undertaking.  Thorough 
preparation  by  both  conductor  and  ac- 
companist,   punctuality    and    depend- 


ability at  rehearsals,  proper  discipline 
in  which  the  director  is  the  final 
authority,  variation  of  study  material, 
impartiality  of  director,  determination 
to  allow  no  envy,  jealousy  or  pettiness, 
loyalty  to  presiding  officers  and  the  or- 
ganization which  the  chorus  represents 
all  are  among  the  factors  noted.  To 
this  man  is  due  a  great  deal  of  credit, 
for  through  his  unceasing  and  unselfish 
efforts  he  has  brought  into  existence 
one  of  the  largest  and  finest  mixed 
choruses  in  the  M.  I.  A. 

Western  States  Mission 

HpHE  Denver  Branch  Mutual  Im- 
provement  Association  Drama  sea- 
son's activities  had  a  fitting  close  with 
a  fine  production  of  one  of  the  con- 
test plays  "In  The  Secret  Places." 

It  was  done  so  well,  costumed  so 
appropriately  and  staged  so  accurately 
that  it  was  decided  to  enter  the  group 
in  the  8  th  State  Little  Theater  Tour- 
nament sponsored  by  the  Denver  Com- 
munity Players  held1  at  the  Woman's 
Club  Auditorium  for  four  nights,  and 
participated  in  by  fifteen  groups  from 


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564 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


different  cities  in  Colorado  including 
several  groups  from  Denver. 

Our  group  won  second  prize  among 
the    church    contestants,     and    Sister 


Thelma  Weight,  one  of  the  cast,  won  the  Drama  Department  during  the  sea- 
first  prize  for  diction  for  women  for  son  and  directed  the  play  for  the  tour- 
the  whole  tournament.  nament.      Lester  J.    Herrick   designed 
Mrs.  John  L.  Herrick  had  charge  of  the  set  and  assisted  in  the  production. 


M.  I.  A.  Report  of  Accomplishments  during  April,  1932 


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1 
6 
4 
1 

n 

2 

2 
3 

4 
4 
3 
1 
3 
4 
5 
6 
2 

4 
1 
1 

4 

1 
6 
4 

5 

7 

4 

1 

2 

3 

10 

7 

1 
2 

3 

4 
3 

9 

5 

2 
6 

52 
16 

8 
41 
10 
61 

9 
45 
25 
37 
14 
80 
93 
12 

36 
29 
23 
2 
1 
36 

6 
30 
24 

9 

18 

11 

8 

27 

17 
4 
46 
18 
27 

11 

5 

12 

25 
6 
5 

6 

"22 

30 
5 

2 

37 

3 

7 
26 

7 

20 

25 
4 

5 
62 
23 
12 
13 

2 

15 

3 

14 

14 

2 
12 
15 

8 
13 

13 
28 
30 

11 
5 
15 
10 
14 

7 
4 

16 
16 
12 

2 

3 

25 

6 

1 

9 

10 

31 
3 
9 
2 
4 

5 
1 

6 
7 
8 

2 

1 
7 
3 

4 

6 
6 

14 
14 

2 
9 
26 
5 
6 

39 

6 

10 

5 

4 
5 

17 

7 
18 
12 

9 

5 
20 

6 

10 
70 
25 

91 

108 

59 

28 

113 

21 

124 

28 

68 

83 

56 

69 

9 

49 

24 
55 
17 
39 
73 
17 
30 
41 
32 
45 

74 
1 
83 
40 
23 
55 
92 
39 
34 

52 

78 
18 

10 
13 

3 

11 

3 

2 

21 
4 

14 
8 

5 

16 

2 

6 
2 

18 
6 

7 

47 

1 

5 

5 

Boxelder     

Cache    

4 

Cassia   

3 

Cottonwood    

5 

Deseret     

ft 

East    Jordan 

fi 

Emery     

R 

Ensign    

7 

Franklin     

<» 

Fremont 

11 

Garfield     

« 

Granite     

ft 

Grant    

6 

Hollywood    

2 
2' 
4 
1 
2 
3 
3 
2 
3 
2 
2 
3 
1 
2 
2 
1 
1 
6 
1 
3 
1 
4 
9 
2 
5 
2 

5 

7 

1 
5 
8 
2 
2 
3 
10 
4 
1 
2 
3 
3 
2 
5 
1 
3 
2 
7 
1 
4 
1 
3 
7 
3 
3 
2 

6 
9 

2 
3 
3 
1 
3 
1 
2 
4 
1 
1 
2 
5 

1 

2 

1 

5 
6 

2 

1 
3 

1 
2 

1 
8 
4 
2 
2 
5 
4 
2 
1 
1 
4 
5 
2 
2 

1 

2 
3 
1 

2 

2 
5 
8 
3 
2 
4 
3 
2 
4 
1 
3 
5 
2 
4 

11 

Hyrum    

5 

Idaho     Falls 

t> 

Kanab     

R 

Kolob     

Lethbridge     

5 

Logan    

4 

Los    Angeles 

11 

? 

Lyman     

3 
29 
21 
14 
8 
3 
10 



4 

Malad 

7 

Millard      

n 

Minidoka    

A 

Moapa     

|> 

38 
32 
37 
7 
25 
42 

24 
12 
65 
26 

7 

1 

25 

4 

1 

14 

3 
2 
3 
1 

1 
1 

7 

3 

6 

4 
1 
2 
8 
2 
3 
3 
G. 
4 
8 

2 

2 
V. 

4 
2 

3 

7 

4 
1 
3 
7 
2 
4 
3 
G. 
5 
6 

1 
2 
10 
4 
2 
1 
3 
4 
6 
7 
2 
4 
2 

4 
3 
9 
5 
3 
4 
7 
6 
6 

4 

23 

36 
14 

5 

1 
8 
1 

6 

29 
1 

? 

Nebo    

86 

32 
7 
10 
24 
58 
54 
15 

36 
44 
4 
44 
19 
77 
17 



a 

Nevada    

4 

North    Sanpete 

11 
3 
6 

1- 
7 
4 
5 

9 

9 

5 

22 

12 

16 

9 

3 

North    Sevier 

<t 

North    Weber 

5 

Oneida    

3 

1 
3 
2 

4 
5 

1 

2 

M. 

b 

Oquirrh 

,1 

Panguiteh     

7 

18 
54 
11 

12 

21 

2 

7 

10 

1 

12 

2 
4 

2 

37 

13 

9 

2 

5 

17 

4 
8 

4 

8 
9 
4 

9 
5 
13 
10 
3 
4 
9 
6 
7 
6 
7 
8 

4 

Parowan     

Pioneer     

64 
89 
17 
18 
31 

175 
44 
34 
12 
10 

150 
65 

46 
59 
16 

36 

92 

9 

127 

119 

55 

10 

24 

2 

2 

2 

47 

10 

4 

9 

9 

11 

23 
2 
7 
4 

29 
7 
8 
7 
2 

6 

Pocatello    

Raft   River 

9 

4 

3 
2 
8 
7 
2 
4 
2 
5 
3 
4 
3 
5 
2 

1 
1 
7 
5 
2 
6 
2 
4 
6 
6 
2 
6 
2 

2 
2 
10 
6 
3 
2 

5 
6 
6 

2 
5 
1 

12 

1 
1 
2 

3 

1 
2 
7 
3 
2 
4 
3 
3 
2 
1 
3 
5 
2 

«» 

St.   Johns 

25 
112 
26 
1 
16 
20 
36 
59 

61 
22 
44 

42 

10,9 

80 

30 

199 

6 

94 

5 

3 

11 
6 

10 

27 

4 

Salt   Lake 

H 

San    Francisco 

10 

San    Luis 

3 

Sharon    

2 

3 
2 

2 
6 

6 
6 

1 

3 

"~2 

5 

7 

13 

10 
7 
1 

25 
1 

19 
5 

4 

2 

81 
5 

3 

10 
2 
2 

56 

9 

8 

6 

18 

19 

6 

5 
4 
4 
102 
1 
56 
1 

3 

Shelley    

46 
25 
26 

H 

6 

South    Davis 

6 

7 

13 

3 

1 

19 

32 

l£> 

13 

42 

22 

21 

4 
11 

4 

1 
15 
47 

9 
14 
40 

21 

Fi 

South    Sanpete 

fi 

South   Sevier 

25 
21 
16 
1 
45 
43 
53 
24 
54 

24 



ft 

Star    Valley 

8 

Tooele          

Twin   Falls 

30 
5 
2 

2 

7 
9 
8 

2 

Utah    

1 
2 
6 

4 
2 
4 
4 
12 
6 
8 
1 

7 
5 

5 
7 

6 

7 
5 
4 
3 
6 

7 

7 
3 

7 

5 
3 

7 

6 
5 

1 
2 
2 

24 
12 
20 
16 
171 
1 
43 

9 

44 

35 

10 

125 

68 
3 

7 
7 

Wasatch 

8 

3 

6 

5 

1 

4 

3 

4 
5 

4 

1 

California    Mission 

90 

29 

37 

Northwestern    

25 

12 
3 

1? 

North    Central 

1 

509 

250 

405 

2,898 

1,416 

3,341 

844 

839|223 

230 

169]  76 

187 

26 

221 

1,791 

1,035 

8871373 

610 

2,520 

3,167 

449 

439 

370 

It  is  rather  encouraging  to  study  the  above  report  and  note  the  ac- 
complishments of  M.  I.  A.  in  some  of  the  activities  during  the  past 
year.  This  report  includes  sixty-three  stakes  and  four  missions  re- 
porting, representing  509  wards  and  branches.  We  ask  for  the  number 
of  people  having  reached  "A"  Standard  and  received  recognition  at  the 
Ward  Honor  Days.  You  will  note  the  totals  given  in  the  various  activ- 
ities. For  example,  2,898  participated  and  reached  "A"  Standard  in 
drama ;    3,    341   in    music,   etc.     We   are   particularly   pleased   with   the 


number  of  reading  course  books  read  during  the  M.  I,  A.  season  by 
our  membership.  The  Life  of  Brigham  Young,  Singing  in  the  Rain 
and  Larry  seem  to  have  been  the  most  popular — 1035,  2520  and  2167 
respectively  having  been  read.  This  report,  of  course,  gives  only  a 
small  part  of  the  many  fine  things  accomplished  by  the  Stakes  and 
Missions  reporting.  We  appreciate  the  splendid  work  and  loyal  sup- 
port of  our  officers  and  members  throughout  the  Church  and  con- 
gratulate you   upon   your   wonderful   accomplishments. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


565 


^[George  Washington- 

Washington  Biographies 

CINCE  W.  L.  Weems,  self-styled 
"former  Rector  of  Mount  Ver- 
non Parish"  (there  was  no  such 
parish)  sat  down  to  write  a  "best 
seller"  on  Washington,  men  have 
busied  themselves  each  year  pub- 
lishing to  the  world  facts  or  fancies 
concerning  Washington's  days  up- 
on this  earth.  The  Weems  book 
appeared  in  1800  and  has  since  re- 
appeared in  nearly  a  hundred  edi- 
tions. Various  editions,  after  a- 
bout  the  eighth,  were  "greatly  im- 
proved" and  "embellished."  The 
improvement  no  doubt  was  the 
addition  of  anecdotes  and  stories 
which,  according  to  the  author, 
were  "Too  valuable  to  be  lost  and 
too  true  to  be  doubted,"  stories 
"communicated"  to  him  by  some 
"excellent  lady."  The  most  fa- 
mous of  these  anecdote-legends  is 
the  cherry  tree-hatchet  story.  A 
story  which,  discarded  as  fact, 
clings  on  with  great  vitality  as  a 
supposed  incident  in  the  young  life 
of  our  country's  father.  Parson 
Weems  also  had  ideas  of  his  own 
about  the  illustrations  which  "em- 
bellished" the  later  editions  of  his 
book.  He  suggested,  for  instance, 
that  the  illustrator  when  drawing 
battle  scenes  give  the  soldiers  a  bit 
more  fierceness  of  countenance  and 
show  the  colonial  troops  in  scenes 
of  victory  rather  than  in  retreat. 
"Quick  and  clean"  sales  of  his 
book  seem  to  have  interested  the 
parson  a  great  deal  more  than  ac- 
curacy of  record.  His  own  con- 
fession about  the  sale  of  books  re- 
minds one  of  a  modern  booksell- 
er's lamentation.  Weems  writes  to 
his  printer  that  "there  is  nothing 
I  so  dread  as  dead  stock,  dull  sales" 
while  as  he  put  it,  "quick  and 
clean  sales"  meant  "heavy  pockets, 
and  light  hearts."  Nothing,  there- 
fore, was  too  good  to  go  into  the 
biography.  The  dream  of  George's 
mother  "which  an  excellent  old 
Lady  of  Fredericksburg  assured" 
him  she  had  often  heard  related  by 
George's  mother,  Mary  Ball  Wash- 
ington, as  well  as  the  hatchet  story 
were  among  those  "improvements 
too  valuable  to  be  lost,"  although 
to  the  modern  reader  perhaps  not 
"too  true  to  be  doubted." 

But  in  spite  of  the  fiction  dis- 
covered in  the  story-telling  clergy- 
man's little  book  and  in  spite  of 
the  approximately  one  thousand 
other  biographies  of  Washington 
that  have  appeared  since  the  first 


Continued  from 
page  520 


edition  of  Weems,  his  still  fascin- 
ates the  reader  with  its  style  and 
its  stories.  Indeed,  it  is  for  Amer- 
icans one  of  the  most  interesting  of 
literary  curiosities. 


"pVERY  biographer  must  take  a 
point  of  view.  Weems  repre- 
sents an  extreme  and  a  comparison 
of  his  title  page  with  that  of  a 
modern  biography  at  the  other  ex- 
treme is  interesting.  Weems  gives 
not  only  a  title  but  a  eulogy:  "The 
Life  of  George  Washington,  with 


Lake  Mary 

(Brighton,  Utah) 
By  Gladys  Ann  Wagstaff 

DOISED  like  a  jewel   in  a  crown   of 
■*       pines 

Worn  on  the  brow  of  earth, 
Emerald-green  beneath  noon-day  sun, 

Rose-gray  at  the  day's  chill  birth. 

Calm,  when  the  moon  leaps  up  from  the 
crags 
To  the  sky's  starlit  pathway,  shimmer- 

.  'na' 
Touching   with    wave   lips    the   shadowy 

forms 
Of   the  mirrored  pines'   silvered  glim- 
mering; 

But  reaching  out  for  the  sheltering  shore 
When   the   wild- winged   things  at   the 
morn 
Cry    challenge — and    small    things    hide 
away, 
And  wave-lips  from  pine  shadows  are 
torn! 


Curious  Anecdotes,  equally  honor- 
able to  himself  and  exemplary  to 
his  young  countrymen, — A  life 
how  useful  to  his  country  led! 
How  loved!  while  living!  how  re- 
vered! now  dead!  Lisp!  lisp!  his 
name,  ye  children  yet  unborn!  And 
with  like  deeds  your  own  great 
names  adorn,"  etc.,  etc.,  and  "he 
turns  all  the  actions  of  Washington 
to  the  encouragement  of  virtue,  by 
a  careful  application  of  numerous 
exemplifications  drawn  from  the 
conduct  of  the  founder  of  our  re- 
public from  his  earliest  life."  The 
modern  title  page  says  little  but, 
supported  by  a  statement  on  the 
book  jacket,  implies  much — 
"George  Washington,  the  Image 
and  the  Man,"  "from  this  book 
there  emerges  a  figure  that  the 
reader  is  bound  to  feel  is  the  real 
George  Washington,  at  last,  freed 
of  the  glamorous  fiction  with 
which  romantic  historians  have  in- 
vested him." 

During  the  past  two  or  three 
decades,  since  muckraking  became 
the  fashion  in  biography,  authors 
have  cared  or  dared  go  after  George 
Washington  with  muck  rake  in 
hand.  Of  the  hundreds  of  writers 
who  have  taken  Washington  as  a 
theme,  beginning  with  and  even 
before  the  voluminous  work  of 
John  Marshall,  practically  all  as- 
sumed the  idealistic  and  eulogistic 
point  of  view  and  wrote  biogra- 
phies "exemplary  to  his  young 
countrymen."  The  eulogist  had 
few  obstacles  for  precious  little  has 
been  discovered  in  the  details  of 
Washington's  life,  private  or  pub- 
lic, that  need  to  be  gilded  or  over- 
looked to  avoid  clouding  the  per- 
fect portrait  of  a  great  man.  By 
the  same  token  the  muckraker  must 
strain  himself  somewhat  to  put 
down  in  uncontestable  print  some- 
thing provocative  or  shocking  a- 
bout  the  weaknesses  of  the  first 
president.  Immoderate  eulogists 
in  certain  instances  have  spread 
their  praises  so  thick  as  to  make 
Washington  seem  a  prig,  which  he 
was  not,  and  thereby  have  greatly 
bored  us  and  even  cloyed  our  esti- 
mate of  him.  On  the  other  hand, 
those  who  vilify  the  reputation  of 
a  noble  man  may  arouse  our  re- 
sentment, shock  our  sensibilities  or 
even  stir  our  wrath.  Neither  ex- 
treme satisfies  us.  But  both  have 
served  a  useful  purpose  in  that  they 
have  stimulated  seasoned  and  fair- 
minded  scholars  to  write  some- 
thing   reliable.      For    the  life    of 


566 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


Washington  all  that  is  required  is 
truth  coupled  with  fairness  to  cre- 
ate in  the  hearts  of  the  American 
people  a  deep  gratitude  and  love 
for  his  devotion  to  a  cause  that 
gave  us  these  United  States  of 
America.  Washington,  a  lover  of 
truth,  would  be  the  first  to  object 
to  any  account  of  him  which  val- 
ued praise  more  highly  than  truth 
and  accuracy.  "We  may  throw  out 
the  cherry  tree  story  as  a  fabrica- 
tion but  the  realization  remains 
that  truth  was  one  of  the  corner- 
stones of  his  character.  Outland- 
ish adulations  are  not  needed; 
mean  insinuations  or  implications 
unsupported  by  facts  cannot  de- 
tract from  the  sterling  character  of 
the  man. 

V\7"ITH  all  that  has  been  written 
about  Washington- — as  sol- 
dier,.as  engineer,  as  farmer,  as  busi- 
ness man,  as  traveler,  as  statesman 
and  as  president  still  it  seems  that 
Americans  have  admired  him  more 
than  they  have  loved  him.  It  is 
possibly  natural  that  an  aristo- 
cratic, wealthy  gentleman  of  Vir- 
ginia is  more  to  be  admired  than 
loved  by  people  who  have  pio- 
neered in  political  and  social  de- 
mocracy, and  that  Washington's 
traditional  wealth,  his  aristocracy 
and  his  dignity,  interpreted  as  cold- 
ness, have  been  obstacles  to  our  un- 
reserved affection  although  they 
have  not  prevented  great  venera- 
tion.    When,  therefore,  recent  in- 


terpreters, such  as  Bernard  Fay 
(pronounced  fah  ee)  kindle  in 
their  readers  the  fire  of  love  they 
are  contributing  something  new. 
And  if  the  American  people  form 
their  estimate  of  George  Washing- 
ton from  biographers  who  tell  of 
him  as  he  was  and,  as  Shelby  Lit- 
tle says,  not  about  "a  great  Amer- 
ican legend"  they  will  feel  that 
after  all  "The  man  himself  is  in- 
finitely more  appeaiing  .  .  .  gay, 
witty,  tender,  gracious,  tactful, 
fearless,  ferocious,  heroic,  and,  at 
his  loftiest,  sublime  than  the  dull 
gray  bore  manufactured  by  stupid 
dullards,  stogy  politicians  and 
mongers  of  altruisms."  Even  those 
on  the  defensive  against  becoming 
too  sentimental  will  be  won  over 
by  his  faithfulness  to  a  great  trust 
and  his  loyalty  to  those  who  put 
the  trust  in  his  hands,  by  his  gen- 
erosity to  fellow-officers  and  coun- 
trymen,his  magnanimity  when  oth- 
ers recriminated,  his  tireless  activ- 
ity for  his  country  when  weari- 
ness stultified  all  about  him;  his 
wisdom  and  unexcelled  patience  in 
retreat  and  defeat,  his  modesty  a- 
bout  his  own  abilities,  his  silence 
and  perhaps  most  of  all  his  whole- 
hearted love  for  the  land  of  Amer- 
ica and  his  faith  in  the  ultimate 
success  of  her  struggle  for  liberty. 

TX/"HEN  one  considers  the  state 
of    affairs    in    the    Colonies 
during  all  the  years  of  the  Revo- 
lution— the   lack  of   coordination 


among  provinces,  the  indecision, 
and  vagueness  as  to  just  what  they 
would  have  if  they  could,  the  lack 
of  training  for  warfare,  the  scanti- 
ness of  wherewith  to  carry  on  a 
war,  the  absence  of  tradition  and 
precedent  to  fall  back  on  in  re- 
peated crises,  the  amazing  instabil- 
ity of  the  army  and  the  futility  of 
any  attempt  to  discipline  farmers 
as  soldiers  might  be  disciplined, 
the  persistent  temptation  to  yield 
and  thus  avoid  terrific  sacrifices, 
the  absence  of  material  reward  for 
unheard  of  hardships,  the  punish- 
ment of  hunger  and  severe  weather 
and  the  tremendous  inequality  of 
the  contestants — when  one  consid- 
ers these  conditions  he  becomes  as- 
sured in  his  own  mind  of  two 
things — that  Providence  was  in 
the  background  turning  the  tide 
of  events  time  after  time,  and  that 
Destiny  had  prepared  a  man  fit  in 
body,  character  and  personality  for 
the  epochal  task  of  establishing  a 
republican  state  and  setting  it  safe- 
ly on  its  way.  And  to  conclude, 
that  "for  the  first  time  in  more 
than  fifteen  centuries,  the  type  of 
hero  who  declined  supreme  power 
and  wished  to  command  only  to 
serve  was  exemplified.  Silently  and 
unhesitatingly,  he  succeeded  in  a 
thing  which  the  most  intrepid  re- 
formers of  his  day  had  not  dared 
to  attempt.  He  became  one  of  the 
spiritual  leaders  of  his  country  and 
of  the  world." 


•>- 


•lO^egs^f 


^The  Oregon  Trail— 

most  beautiful  and  understanding  pic- 
ture here: 

"After  advancing  for  some  time, 
I  conceived  myself  to  be  entirely 
alone;  but  coming  to  a  part  of  the 
glen  in  a  great  measure  free  of  trees 
and  undergrowth,  I  saw  at  some  dis- 
tance the  black  head  and  red  shoul- 
ders of  an  Indian  among  the  bushes 
above.  The  reader  need  not  prepare 
himself  for  a  startling  adventure,  for 
I  have  none  to  relate.  The  head  and 
shoulders  belonged  to  Mene-Seela,  my 
best  friend  in  the  village.  As  I  had 
approached  noiselessly  with  my  moc- 
casined  feet,  the  old  man  was  quite 
unconscious  of  my  presence;  and  turn- 
ing to  a  point  where  I  could  gain  an 
unobstructed  view  of  him,  I  saw  him 
seated  alone,  immovable  as  a  statue, 
among  the  rocks  and  trees.  His  face 
was  turned  upward,  and  his  eyes 
seemed  riveted  on  a  pine-tree  spring- 
ing from  a  cleft  in  the  precipice  above. 
The  crest  of  the  pine  was  swaying  to 
and  fro  in  the  wind,  and  its  long  limbs 


waved  slowly  up  and  down,  as  if  the 
tree  had  life.  Looking  for  a  while 
at  the  old  man,  I  was  satisfied  that  he 
was  engaged  in  an  act  of  worship,  or 
prayer,  or  communion  of  some  kind 
with  a  supernatural  being.  I  longed 
to  penetrate  his  thoughts,  but  I  could 
do  nothing  more  than  conjecture  and 
speculate. 

"I  knew  that  though  the  intellect 
of  an  Indian  can  embrace  the  idea  of 
an  all-wise,  all-powerful  Spirit,  the 
supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe,  yet  his 
mind  will  not  always  ascend  into 
communion  with  a  being  that  seems 
to  him  so  vast,  remote,  and  incompre- 
hensible; and  when  danger  threatens, 
when  his  hopes  are  broken,  and 
trouble  overshadows  him,  he  is  prone 
to  turn  for  relief  to  some  inferior 
agency,  less  removed  from  the  ordinary- 
scope  of  his  faculties.  He  has  a  guar- 
dian spirit,  on  whom  he  relies  for 
succor  and  guidance.  To  him  all  na- 
ture is  instinct  with  mystic  influence. 
Among   those  mountains   not  a   wild 


Continued  from 
page  558 


beast  was  prowling,  a  bird  singing,  or 
a  leaf  fluttering,  that  might  not  tend 
to  direct  his  destiny,  or  give  warning 
of  what  was  in  store  for  him;  and  he 
watches  the  world  of  nature  around 
him  as  the  astrologer  watches  the  stars. 
So  closely  is  he  linked  with  it  that 
his  guardian  spirit,  no  unsubstantial 
creation  of  the  fancy,  is  usually  em- 
bodied in  the  form  of  some  living 
thing:  a  bear,  a  wolf,  an  eagle,  or  a 
serpent;  and  Mene-Seela,  as  he  gazed 
intently  on  the  old  pine-tree,  might 
believe  it  to  enshrine  the  fancied  guide 
and  protector  of  his  life." 

Whatever  was  passing  in  the  old 
Indian's  mind,  Parkman  did  not  dis- 
turb him,  but  withdrew  quietly  and 
returned  to  camp. 

This  classic  has  been  published  in 
an  extremely  attractive  edition  with 
lavish  illustrations  by  Farrar  and  Rine- 
hart.  It  appeared  as  a  Junior  Literary 
Guild  selection  for  older  girls  last 
year.      Trade   edition   $3.00. 

— Karl  E.  Young,  B.  Y.  U. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


567 


4^  James  E.  Talmage 

elsewhere,  and  doing  it  in  an  orig- 
inal and  superior  way.  When  the 
record  of  his  life  is  written  one 
of  the  most  charming  and  fascinat- 
ing chapters  will  be  the  one  nar- 
rating the  little  things  of  his  home 
life — things  which  contribute  so 
much  to  the  joy  and  satisfaction  of 
living.  There  are  intimate  letters 
to  his  children  and  grand-children, 
on  occasions  such  as  their  baptisms 
or  birthdays  accompanying  some 
appropriate  gift.  These  letters  re- 
veal the  tender  side  of  his  nature 
and  he  has  a  very  tender  nature. 
The  care  which  he  has  taken  of 
his  children  in  their  infancy  and 
in  sickness  is  not  only  scientific 
and  efficient  but  soulful  and  tender. 

Forty-four  years  ago  this  June 
he  married  Mary  May  Booth,  a 
daughter  of  Richard  Thornton 
Booth  and  Elsie  Edge  Booth  of 
Alpine,  Utah,  a  most  sympathetic 
and  companionable  woman  of 
transparent  honesty  and  of  un- 
usual intellectual  capacity,  who 
seemed  to  complement  almost  per- 
fectly the  life  of  her  distinguished 
husband.  That  she  has  kept  a- 
breast  of  affairs  and  combined 
home-making  with  successful  and 
valuable  public  and  Church  service 
is  attested  by  her  excellent  work  in 
the  European  Mission  during  her 
sojourn  there  with  her  husband, 
her  thirty-eight  years  of  helpful 
service  on  the  General  Board  of 
Young  Ladies'  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Association,  and  other  sim- 
ilar work.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  survive,  all  born  in  Salt 
Lake  City — Sterling  B.,  Paul  B., 
Elsie,  James  K.,  Lucile,  Helen 
May  and  John  B.  Talmage.  It  is 
an  unusually  talented  family. 

His  love  and  admiration  for  the 
woman  whose  wisdom  and  com- 
panionship have  meant  so  much  to 
him,  his  affection  for  his  children 
and  his  solicitude  for  their  welfare, 
is  recorded  in  a  correspondence 
which,  we  venture,  will  some  day 
be  found  among  the  most  precious 
and  delightful  things  he  has  writ- 
ten. We  are  permitted  to  use  a 
letter  written  from  Siberia  nearly 
thirty-five  years  ago: 

For  Elsie,  in  Mamma's  care. 
Kychtym,    Siberia,    Russia-in-Asia, 

August   16,    1897. 

Elsie,  My  Darling  Daughter: 

A  father's  fondest  greeting  to  you  on 
this  the  first  recurrence  of  your  natal  day. 
Such  I  send  to  you  from  the  plains  of  the 


far  East,  from  the  Steppes  of  Siberia.  1 
write  in  the  light  of  the  early  dawn,  at 
an  hour  which  to  you  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  earth  is  the  same  Sabbath  hour 
at  which  one  short  year  ago,  you  came  to 
gladden  our  hearts,  and  to  call  forth  our 
prayers  of  thankfulness;  the  hour  at  which 
your  sweet  mother  reached  the  depths  of 
the  shadowy  valley  known  as  the  Valley 
of  Death,  whither  she  had  fearlessly  gone 
to  find  you,  my  child.  But  the  great 
Father,  who  is  your  parent  as  He  is  ours, 
guided  and  guarded  her  through  the 
threatening  darkness,  and  led  her  along  the 
rough  path  of  painful  recovery,  until  she 
emerged  from  the  pain  and  the  travail, 
once  more  a  sanctified  mother,  with  you, 
my  Darling,  an  added  jewel  to  her  crown. 
May  the  one  completed  year  of  your 
life  be  the  first  of  many,  each  bringing 
increasing  wisdom  and  growing  goodness 
in  the  service  of  our  God.  May  the  bless- 
ings pronounced  upon  you  by  the  power 
of  the  eternal  priesthood  be  realized  in  all 
your  life  and  work.  May  you  live  to  be 
a  sisterly  guide  to  your  brothers'  feet,  and 
a  comfort  to  the  mother  whom  God  has 
given  to  you  and  to  me.  And  in  the 
Lord's  due  time  may  you  be  crowned  an 
honored  mother  in  the  House  of  Israel. 
Peace,  happiness  and  the  love  that  know- 
eth  naught  but  good,  be  yours,  my  darling 
and  my  pride. 

.   Affectionately, 

Your  father. 

I  send  you  blossoms,  leaves  and  ferns, 
gathered  for  you  on  the  slopes  of  Songo- 
mak. 

HPHIS    daughter,    Elsie  Talmage 
Brandley,    associate    editor    of 
this   magazine,    referring   to   him, 
said: 

"From  the  earliest  memory  of  his  chil- 
dren James  E.  Talmage  was  a  man  who 
'knew  everything,'  and  could  explain  most 
of  it  in  a  way  to  be  at  least  partially  un- 
derstood by  immature  minds.  Questions 
as  to  what  thunder  is  made  of,  where 
water  comes  from,  how  high  the  sky  is 
and  why  it  is  blue,  and  numerous  others 
of  similar  character  were  never  met  with 
a  weary  'Do  be  quiet.'  Always  there  was 
a  carefully  worded  explanation  which 
helped  to  clear  up  the  puzzle. 

"To  children  this  was  a  boon.  Con- 
fidence in  the  clear  understanding  of  their 
father  and  his  ability  to  make  things  plain 
to  them  was  a  strong  part  of  the  feeling 
which  his  sons  and  daughters  held  for 
him. 

"Strange  and  fascinating  little  bugs 
were    shown    to    them    through    a   micro- 


Corttinued  from 
page  525 


scope,  queer  things  from  strange  lands- 
and  unfamiliar  parts  of  their  own,  ore 
in  which  could  be  seen  glints  of  precious 
metals,  specimens  of  crystals,  rocks,  lime 
formations  and  other  unusual,  though  nat- 
ural pecularities,  all  were  regular  parts 
of  the  hours  which  this  man  spent  with 
his  family. 

"Later  the  certainty  that  he  could  ex- 
plain problems  and  make  them  simple 
carried  over  into  fields  other  than  the 
physical  and  geological.  Questions  of  a 
more  vital  nature  were  propounded  and 
clarified — questions  of  life  and  death,  of 
where  people  came  from  and  where  they 
were  going,  of  how  to  find  the  true  val- 
ues of  life.  Implicit  faith  in  his  answers 
helped  them  to  take  the  ideas  explained 
and  weave  into  their  adolescent  phil- 
osophy. Some  of  these  children,  now 
grown,  feel  that  no  problem  can  present 
itself  which  cannot  be  met  satisfactorily  by 
the  man  who  has  never  failed  them  when 
they  needed  help— their  father." 


HPHE  breadth  of  his  interests,  the 
reach  and  penetration  of  his. 
mind,  the  capacity  of  his  memory, 
his  matchless  industry,  the  felicity 
with  which  he  expresses  himself, 
make  him  delightfully  companion- 
able any  time  or  any  place  and  at 
the  same  time  give  him  an  accur- 
acy of  thought  and  a  directness  of 
action  that  accounts,  in  part,  for 
his  prodigious  accomplishments. 
He  does  more  than  is  humanly  pos- 
sible for  most  men  to  do.  He  has; 
been  known  to  work  all  night  and 
go  to  his  regular  task  in  the  morn- 
ing without  rest  or  relaxation,  and 
so  his  achievements  are  not  due  en- 
tirely to  an  imperial  mind  but  to 
the  determined  will  to  work.  He 
produced  his  greatest  work,  Jesus 
the  Christ — writing  all  the  manu- 
script in  long  hand,  proof  read  and 
issued  it  from  the  press  in  less  than 
a  year.  At  the  same  time  he  car- 
ried on  much  of  his  regular  work. 

On  September  21  next  he  wilr 
be  seventy  years  of  age — while  pre- 
siding over  the  European  Mission 
he  met  with  an  accident  which  in- 
jured his  knee — otherwise  he  is  in 
sound  health,  his  mind  keen  and' 
vigorous  and  working  at  high 
speed. 

Dr.  James  E.  Talmage  has  a  su- 
perior intellect,  a  pure  and  a  con- 
trite heart,  a  radiant  faith,  a  sane- 
and  lofty  idealism,  a  clear  under- 
standing of  the  meaning  and  pur- 
poses of  life.  He  has  achieved' 
splendidly  in  the  world.  His  life 
reflects  credit  upon  his  name  and 
his  people  and  has  added  strengtb 
and  majesty  to  the  great  Church  to- 
which  he  has  given  a  consecrated; 
allegiance. 


568 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


4{This  Bear  Business 

one  leisurely.  Jerry  still  walked 
rather  guess  that  he  was  a  might 
worried  about  the  affair.  "I'll  give 
yuh  fifty  dollars  if  yuh  can  get 
him  in  three  days." 

JESS  had  driven  me 
out  to  his  ranch  the  same  morning. 
By  noon  I  was  in  the  saddle  and 
ready  to  go.  It  was  not  more  than 
an  hour's  traveling  until  I  came 
to  the  site  of  Jerry's  crime,  as  Jerry 
it  proved  to  be. 

"Now  yuh  can  see  fer  yerself. 
that  it  has  been  some  slaughter. 
There  is  these  three  that  he  got 
last  night.  And  he's  sort  of  a  pig 
about  it  all.  Only  eats  a  little  bit 
and  then  he  kills  another." 

Jess  was  what  you  might  call 
irritable. 

"I'll  dp  the  best  I  can,"  I  told 
him.  "I  know  bears.  But  I  am 
not  much  of  a  trapper.  Used  to 
do  a  little  with  coyotes  and  such. 
But  when  it  comes  to  griz- 
zlies *  *  *" 

He  winked  one  eye  reassuringly 
and  rode  off  at  a  gallop,  leaving 
me  with  rather  a  problem  on  my 
hands.  How  do  you  capture  a 
grizzly  alive?  Now  if  I  only  had 
some  good  dogs.  But  I  had  no 
dogs. 

I  set  to  work  on  an  inclosure  in 
a  little  hollow  where  a  cluster  of 
pines  stood  'round  like  friendly 
onlookers.  After  a  few  hours'  work 
with  an  ax  my  attempt  began  to 
look  like  a  miniature  log  cabin. 
As  a  figure  four  was  the  only 
fall  that  I  was  familiar  with  I  soon 
had  a  sliding  door  arrangement  set 
precariously  upon  my  delicately 
balanced  four.  For  a  while  I  wor- 
ried about  the  possibility  of  his 
touching  off  the  trap  before  he  was 
well  into  the  inclosure.  So  I  reset 
my  "four"  upon  one  side  after 
placing  a  good  sized1  piece  of  sheep 
meat  upon  the  trigger.  I  rested 
for  a  while  looking  at  my  handi- 
work, feeling  somehow  that  I  was 
to  fail — that  my  work  was  am- 
ateurish. I  racked  my  brains 
again.  Night  was  falling.  Stars 
were  beginning  to  twinkle  down  at 
me  humorously. 

Back  at  the  ranch  house  Jess 
smoked  his  pipe  as  if  the  job  were 
already  accomplished.  After  eat- 
ing, he  began  to  ask  me  questions 


about  grizzly  bears  of  which  I 
could  relate  stories  to  satisfy  any 
grown  up  boy.  I  had  watched 
them  hundreds  of  times  in  one  role 
or  another,  but  never  as  a  trapper. 
I  hated  to  confess  my  ignorance. 

Nervousness    is 

not  one  of  my  failings,  but  when 
I  sallied  forth  to  my  trap  the  next 
morning  I  was  almost  trembling 
with  fits  of  apprehension.  Fortu- 
nately Jess  was  too  busy  to  go 
with  me.  I  passed  his  herder 
some  three  miles  from  the  ranch — 
a  young  fellow  from  Idaho  who 
was  just  eating  his  breakfast. 

My  trap  was  empty — un- 
touched. 

In  three  days  time  Jerry  never 
came  near  either  my  trap  or  Jess's 
sheep.  In  many  ways  it  was  relief 
that  was  uppermost  in  my  mind, 
but  again  I  felt  chagrined  at  being 
so  completely  lacking  as  an  animal 
expert.  Jess  looked  at  me  with 
good-humored  derision  in  his  hard, 
bright  eyes. 

I  had  'given  up  in  despair  and 
was  returning  to  West  Yellow- 
stone by  way  of  the  old  Army 
Road.  My  horse,  or  rather  a  nerv- 
ous gelding  that  I  had  borrowed 
from  Jess,  was  behaving  in  a  man- 
ner most  exasperating.  He  would 
shy  away  at  everything — a  stone, 
a  leaf,  or  an  imaginary  noise  from 
the  heavy  pine  growth  on  either 
side. 

We  made  a  turn  in  the  road. 
The  horse  under  me  bounded  as  if 
a  cannon  had  been  shot  off  over  his 
head.  There,  not  ten  yards  away, 
was  old  Jerry  ambling  along  as  if 
there  was  nothing  in  the  wide 
world  to  worry  about.  His  small 
beady  eyes  blinked  slowly  with  the 
friendly  spirit  of  a  comrade  in 
arms.  I  could  guess  that  he  was 
headed  back  to  the  Park  to  take  up 
his  criminal  way,  and  in  all  prob- 
ability to  get  shot. 

AN  idea  leaped  into 
my  brain.  Why  not  rope  him  as 
one  might  rope  a  steer!  To  my 
saddle  was  tied  an  old  Manila 
hemp  rope,  but  it  was  stout.  My 
horse  was  straining  at  the  bit. 

Jerry  made  no  particular  effort 
to  elude  me.  He  might  have  been 
performing  for  a  crowd  of  tour- 
ists. My  rope  was  out  but  there 
was  no  knot  for  my  noose.     I  tied 


Continued  from 

page  538 

slowly  along  the  road  ahead  of  me, 
turning  his  head  now  and  then  to 
stare  at  me. 

"Here  goes,"  I  muttered,  my 
heart,  hammering  excitedly  in  my 
breast. 

I  threw  with  a  wide  loop.  It 
settled  easily  over  the  great  ani- 
mal's neck.  He  looked  startled. 
My  horse,  frenzied  with  fear, 
tightened  the  rope  with  a  jerk  that 
yanked  Jerry  back  into  a  snarling 
struggling  mass  of  fighting  ani- 
mal. I  jumped,  freeing  my  foot 
from  the  stirrup  with  a  kick,  and 
landed  on  all  fours  about  ten  feet 
from  the  indignant  Jerry  who 
had  lost  all  sense  of  reason.  He 
dug  in  his  claws  and  almost  jerked 
my  horse  from  his  feet. 


J, 


J  ERRY  gave  a  tremen- 
dous pull,*  apparently  unhurt  by 
the  tightening  noose  that  gripped 
his  throat.  The  gelding,  every 
muscle  taut,  stricken  with  a  hor- 
rible fear  of  the  maddened  beast, 
leaped  and  plunged.  There  was  a 
ripping  sound  of  bursting  cinches. 
I  was  helpless  to  do  more  than 
watch,  almost  wishing  that  I  had 
succumbed  to  Jess's  pleading  for 
me  to  shoot  the  varmint.  A  strug- 
gling grizzly  with  the  might  of  a 
thousand  or  so  pounds  of  flesh 
behind  his  efforts  is  an  awesome 
spectacle.  In  a  splitting  confusion 
of  sound  my  horse  dashed  one  way 
and  Jerry  another,  the  saddle 
bumping  along  behind.  A  mile 
further  on  I  found  where  he  had 
somehow  removed  the  noose  that 
had  caused  him  such  grievance. 

About  a  month  later  I  met  the 
Supervisor  at  Old  Faithful,  and  in- 
quired after  Jerry. 

"Did  you  shoot  him?"  I  asked. 

"No;"  he  answered.  "He's  still 
around.  He  has  been  rather  well 
behaved  this  past  month  and  we 
are  putting  it  off  as  long  as  pos- 
sible. Kind  of  hate  to  kill  the  old 
brute.    But  what  can  we  do?" 

I  told  him  about  my  experience 
with  Jerry. 

He  laughed  long  and  heartily. 

"Give  him  a  break,"  I  pleaded. 
"Old  Jerry  is  like  a  pal  to  me. 
Why  I  have  known  him  for 
years." 

He  winked.  And  I  left  Jerry 
to  the  uncertainty  of  the  future. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


569 


^The  Scar- 


gave  some  flour  and  meat  to  Black 
Hawk  so  he'd  behave  himself. 
Then  they  brought  nine  of  the 
chiefs  back  with  'em  and  I  heard 
President  Young  tell  Dimick 
Huntington  to  tell  the  Injuns  he'd 
be  ready  to  talk  business  with  'em 
as  soon  as  ma  had  got  'em  all  fed." 

"Gosh,  I  wish  we  could  watch 
'em.  Was  they  eatin'  when  you 
left?" 

"Yep." 

"I  believe  there  must  be  some 
way,"  and  it  was  Joe's  plan  that 
finally  had  made  it  possible  for  the 
boys  to  see  the  thrilling  spectacle 
enacted  a  short  distance  from  their 
leafy  hiding  place. 

WHEN  the  last  man 
had  smoked  the  peace  pipe  and  the 
President  and  the  other  white  men 
had  retired  to  the  house  and  the 
feather-decked  redmen  had  glided 
silently  into  their  wigwam,  the 
two  boys  slid  quietly  down  the  tree 
and  started  toward  the  hay  barn 
where  Joe  slept. 

"Wish  we  could  a  heard  what 
they  said,"  Fred  whispered. 

"They  was  swearin'  friendship. 
It  makes  you  feel  kinda  funny  the 
way  they  acted  all  so  solemn-like. 
I'll  bet  it  would  be  an  awful  thing 
if  any  of  'em  broke  their  promise," 
Joe  whispered  back  as  they  climbed 
the  ladder  that  led  to  the  hay  loft. 

r  RED  was  asleep  al- 
most as  soon  as  his  head  touched 
the  hay  but  Joe  lay  thoughtful  and 
quiet  without  any  inclination  to 
leave  a  state  of  consciousness 
fraught  with  so  many  interesting 
fancies.  The  moon  was  high  and 
brilliant.  Her  weird  light  flooded 
the  face  of  the  towsled-headed  boy 
at  his  side.  It  gave  him  a  strange, 
ethereal  expression.  Joe  remem- 
bered the  pitiful  look  he  had  caught 
on  his  chum's  face  when  he  had 
ignored  Fred's  overtures  toward  a 
reconciliation.  Something  big  and 
unexplainable  stirred  in  Joe's  heart. 
He  loved  this  boy  beside  him — 
loved  him  better  than  any  human 
being  save  his  widowed  mother, 
and  yet  he  had  found  a  cruel  pleas- 
ure in  hurting  him. 

"I  ain't  never  goin*  to  do  it 
again,"  he  promised  himself,  "and 
what's  more,  I'm  goin'  to  swear 
friendship  to  him  like  the  Injuns 
did  to  Fred's  pa  and  the  other  men 
tonight." 


i  O  decide  on  a  thing 
with  Joe  was  to  act.  He  slid  out 
of  his  nest-like  bed  and  hurried 
down  the  ladder.  He  knew  exactly 
what  he  wanted.  In  the  darkness 
of  the  lower  barn  his  hands 
fumbled  over  the  top  of  the  big 
grain  box.  Quickly  he  selected  a 
dry  corn  cob  from  the  heap  en- 
countered. 

"Forgot  my  knife,"  he  muttered 
and  with  swift  cat-like  movements 
scaled  the  ladder. 

Fred  moved  uneasily  in  his  sleep 
and  threw  out  an  arm.  Suddenly 
he  sat  bolt  upright.  "Where  in 
heck  are  you,  Joe?" 

"Fixin'  a  peace  pipe  for  us  to 
smoke,"  Joe  answered  from  the 
position  he  had  taken  by  the  big 
opening  in  the  front  of  the  barn. 

Fred  came  over  from  the  mound 
of  hay.  Sleep  had  dropped  from 
him  like  an  outworn  garment. 
"What  you  goin'  to  use  for  the 
stem?" 

"A  strip  of  my  bamboo  fishm' 
pole." 

Together  the  boys 

went  to  the  woodshed  for  it  and 
presently  the  two  nocturnal  prowl- 
ers had  finished  their  task. 

"Now  for  the  matches.  I'll  get 
them  from  the  house  while  you 
gather  some  of  those  dry  Iucern 
leaves  and  mash  'em  up  fine." 

A  few  moments  later  two  boy- 
ish forms  were  silhouetted  in  the 
square  window  of  the  hayloft. 

"Raw  heels  and  bloody  bones 
who  wants  us  come  and  get  us," 
they  chanted  solemnly  together,  "if 
we  ain't  true  to  each  other  forever 
and  forever." 

That  had  set  a  seal  upon  a 
friendship  which  in  the  ensuing 
twelve  years  nothing  had  marred. 
Through  their  adolescence  they 
had  shared  alike  in  the  hardships 
and  joys  of  their  pioneer  life.  To- 
gether they  tilled  the  fields  in 
spring  and  summer,  hunted  deer  in 
the  autumn,  and  in  the  winter  cut 
and  hauled  logs  with  their  ox 
teams  in  nearby  canyons. 


J 


UDGE  Halsom  stir- 
red a  trifle  in  his  seat.  There  was 
a  memory  of  one  certain  winter 
that  he  couldn't  recall  even  yet 
without  a  strange  lifting  of  the 
heart.  It  was  this  memory  that 
had  prompted  him  to  call  out 
when  he  had  seen  the  scarred  face. 


Continued  from 
page  531 


A  half  century  had  passed  since 
that  January  morning  when  his 
axe  had  glanced  from  the  tree  he 
was  chopping  and  cut  an  artery 
in  his  foot.  Fred  had  taken  him 
home  where  attics  were  scoured  for 
cobwebs  to  stop  the  flow  of  blood, 
but  when  it  became  apparent  that 
no  known  lore  of  the  small  town 
could  entirely  staunch  the  red 
stream,  Fred's  mouth  set  in  grim 
lines. 

"I'm  going  to  snow-shoe  over 
to  Logan  and  get  a  doctor." 

Fourteen  hours  later  he  stag- 
gered in  from  thirty  miles  of  con- 
tinuous travel;  but  it  was  the  next 
day  before  Joe  was  conscious  of  his 
arrival  or  of  the  grisly  wound 
across  his  cheek,  left  by  a  fall 
against  a  gnarled  pine  tree,  or  of 
the  little  doctor  who  probably 
saved  the  lives  of  both  boys. 

WHEN  the  haze  had 
finally  lifted  and  Joe  realized  just 
what  that  trip  meant  to  him  and 
to  Fred,  too,  he  put  out  a  hand, 
waxen  from  the  loss  of  blood,  and 
tried  to  thank  his  pal. 

"Shut  your  mouth,  Joe.  You 
haven't  got  enough  strength  to 
throw  rocks  on  old  Pete's  porch." 

That  memory  always  made  him 
uncomfortable  so  he  had  long  since 
learned  to  close  his  mind  against  it. 
He  shut  it  out  now. 

"Call  out  to  Fred?"  he  thought, 
and   a  sardonic  smile  twisted  his 

lips.      "Not   I.     Not   till  h 

freezes  over." 

He  brought  out  a  slender  plat- 
inum watch.  Almost  time.  He 
glanced  about.  Though  the  seats 
appeared  filled  the  aisles  were  still 
moving  streams. 

Someone  was  pushing  in  on  the 
seat  ahead,  an  old  gentleman  as- 
sisted by  an  usher  and  a  plainly 
clad  woman.  As  he  took  his  seat 
his  cane  fell  to  the  floor  and  rolled 
back.  Immediately  a  young  girl 
sitting  next  to  Judge  Halsom 
picked  it  up  and  handed  it  back. 
As  the  old  man  turned  to  thank 
her  Judge  Halsom  felt  that  queer 
nerve  shock  again.  This  was  the 
long  arm  of  coincidence.  Fred 
Montague  on  the  seat  ahead! 


T 


HE  eyes  of  the  two 
men  met.  Recognition  dawned 
slowly  in  the  face  of  the  man 
ahead.  Judge  Halsom  felt,  rather 
than  saw,  an  instinctive  gesture  of 
Fred's  hand  toward  him — a  gesture 


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that  died  immediately  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  other's  stony  gaze.  For 
a  full  minute  two  pairs  of  eyes 
measured  each  other  silently,  old 
eyes  that  gradually  sharpened  with 
hate  and  anger  and  then  without 
a  word  each  man  turned  his  face 
away. 

Judge  Halsom  took  a  deep 
breath.  That  sight  of  Fred's  face 
before  he  entered  the  building 
was  fortunate.  It  had  given  him 
time  to  get  hold  of  himself.  No 
silly  sentimentalism  was  going  to 
break  down  a  vow  that  had  already 
held  good  an  ordinary  lifetime, 
a  vow  that  had  been  made  on  these 
very  Tabernacle  grounds. 

In  their  far  off  youth  Joe,  a  na- 
tural skeptic  in  matters  of  the 
spirit,  had  deliberately  chosen  read- 
ings and  associates  during  his  two 
years'  study  of  law  in  the  East  that 
had  intensified  his  belief  regarding 
religion. 

1  T  was  during  the  one 
brief  vacation  he  had  allowed  him- 
self that  he  had  met  Fred  here  in 
Salt  Lake.  Anxious  to  broaden 
his  friend's  mental  horizon,  he  had 
set  out  with  the  high-handedness 
of  youth  to  break  down  what  he 
termed  "Fred's  religious  shackles." 

Fred  himself,  fresh  from  two 
years  in  the  British  mission  met 
these  onslaughts  with  an  impa- 
tience for  the  other's  viewpoint 
that  matched  his  own.  It  was  in- 
evitable that  trouble  should  result. 
Soon  they  were  swept  far  beyond 
their  moorings.  Hot  words  led  to 
hot  rejoinders.  Soon  they  were 
quarreling  bitterly. 

"Blind,  ignorant,  bigoted!  You 
walk  in  shadows  that  blot  out  your 
own  light,"  Joe  scorned. 

More  mockery,  more  scathing 
words  slashing  into  the  tapestry  of 
their  friendship. 

"You  are  a  traitor  to  your  own 
people,  Joe  Halsom.  I'll  never 
speak  to  you   again." 

"May  God  forgive  me  if  I  ever 
let  you." 

So  they  parted. 

A  CRASH  of  music 
tugged  at  Judge  Halsom's  consci- 
ousness. The  great  curtains  in  the 
west  end  of  the  Tabernacle  were 
slowly  sweeping  aside.  The 
gorgeous  spectacle  of  the  Creation 
unfolded  before  him.  Episode  af- 
ter episode  in  the  Gospel's  plan  of 
salvation  swept  before  him,  breath- 
taking in  the  gorgeousness  of  its 
setting  and   costume. 


Across  the  back  of  the  stage  now 
he  saw  the  pioneers  leaving  for  the 
long  trek  ahead  across  the  trackless 
plains.  A  frail,  sunbonneted  wo- 
man turned  and  waved  to  some  one 
in  the  distance — someone  she  was 
leaving.  Gently  her  stalwart  hus- 
band took  her  arm  and  sought  to 
lead  her  on,  but  still  she  stood  and 
waved.  Finally,  with  reluctant 
steps  she  joined  the  band  ahead 
whose  faces  shone  with  impassion- 
ed rapture. 

The  poignancy  of  that  one  brief 
little  drama  left  Judge  Halsom  us- 
ing his  handkerchief  audibly  and 
unashamed.  That  woman  who 
bared  her  breaking  heart  in  a  back- 
ward glance  and  a  wave  of  her  frail 
hand  might  well  have  been  his 
own  mother.  Those  people  sing- 
ing, "Come,  come  ye  Saints," 
were  his  people,  say  what  he 
would.  Out  of  their  strength  had 
come  his  own  strength. 

LIE  felt  his  identity 
mingle  with  theirs,  his  lips  utter- 
ing the  words  of  their  song,  his 
heart  torn  at  their  suffering  or  lift- 
ing in  pride  at  their  achievement. 
And  in  the  midst  of  his  exultation 
it  was  over.  The  Pageant  was  end- 
ed. The  vast  audience  was  shak- 
ing itself  free  from  the  spell.  Peo- 
ple moved  and  stirred  about  him. 

He  came  back  to  reality  with  a 
jerk  of  astonishment  and  suddenly 
he  felt  old,  heartsick,  and  lonely! 
The  thing  for  which  he  had  strug- 
gled so  hard  had  turned  to  ashes 
in  his  mouth.  He  was  cheated, 
bereft.  The  best  things  were  long 
since  gone. 

Far  down  the  aisle  Fred  Mon- 
tague was  borne  along  with  the 
slow-moving  tide  of  humanity. 
Judge  Halsom  could  see  the  scar 
on  his  cheek.  A  moment  more,  and 
he,  too,  would  be  gone. 

Suddenly  the  spectators  were 
startled  at  the  sight  of  an  old  man, 
impeccably  dressed,  bearing  all  the 
physical  marks  of  culture,  suddenly 
turn  madman  and  push  and  jostle 
them  with  unbelievable  strength 
in  an  effort  to  break  through  their 
ranks.  When  he  saw  that  it  was 
impossible,  without  a  word  of 
apology  he  left  them,  and  began  a 
rapid  clambering  over  the  back's 
of  the  benches.  His  old  voice  rose 
in  an  excited  cry,  "Fred!  Fred 
Montague.  Wait  for  me!  It's  Joe 
Halsom." 

And  down  by  the  east  door  of 
the  Tabernacle  Fred  Montague 
heard  the  voice  and  waited. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


571 


^Camping 


has  its  own  emphasis  and  the  name 
is  of  real  help  in  working  out  the 
program."  For  example  during 
Indian  Week,  the  program  consists 
of  songs,  Indian  dances,  ceremon- 
ies making  torn  toms,  moccasins, 
bows  and  arrows,  practicing  arch- 
ery and  other  skills,  using  special 
menus,  wearing  costumes  and  end- 
ing with  a  big  "Pow  Wow." 

Certainly  the  unusual  happen- 
ing or  mysterious  quest  plays  an 
important  part  in  making  the  day's 
fun  more  alluring.  Among  these 
we  might  list  the  following:  Camp 
tradition  ceremony,  Topsy  turvy 
day,  the  reunion  or  get-to-gether, 
camp  banquet  for  the  old  campers, 
field  day  with  sports  for  all,  pa- 
geants and  treasure  hunts. 

The  camp  tradition  ceremony 
tells  the  camper  through  drama- 
tization the  story  of  the  queer  lit- 
tle people  who  long  ago  dwelt  in 
this  hollow  or  the  big  Indian  chief 
and  his  tribe  who  years  ago  pitch- 
ed their  tepees,  killed  their  game 
on  this  very  spot  and  paddled  their 
canoes  in  the  clear  waters  of  our 
lake  or  stream.  Every  Camp  Di- 
rector should  seek  authentic  in- 
formation about  the  campsite  and 
surrounding  territory.  This  his- 
toric data  is  invaluable  in  estab- 
lishing a  worthwhile  traditional 
ceremony. 

^"pHE  "Good  Indian  Call"  has 
been  a  tradition  in  one  camp 
and  met  with  marked  success.  Ac- 
cording to  the  tradition  an  Indian 
by  the  name  of  "Two  Feathers" 
roamed  years  ago  over  the  woods 
where  the  camp  is  now  located. 
"Two  Feathers"  died  years  ago 
and  his  spirit,  though  in  the  happy 
hunting  grounds  is  watching  over 
the  camp.  When  things  run 
smoothly  through  the  day,  when 
every  camper  does  his  part  and 
strives  his  best  to  make  the  day  a 
successful  one,  the  spirit  of  "Two 
Feathers"  is  happy  and  at  the  close 
of  the  day  just  before  the  campers 
turn  in  for  the  night,  he  signifies 
his  approval  by  calling  from  some 
distant  point.  Sometimes  the  call 
is  faint  and  far  away,  other  times 
it  is  louder  but  it  always  comes  if 
the  day  has  been  a  successful  one. 
The  campers  reply  to  the  call  of 
Two  Feathers  and  his  final  answer 
"U-He-K  e  e  t .  h-H  a-M  e,  U-He- 
Keeth-Ha-Me"  translated  means 
"You  been  good  to  me."  If  the 
campers  hear  the  call  a  certain 
number  of  times  during  the  season 


a  special  belt  decoration  is  given  to 
them.  i 

A  "Hobo  Outing"  adds  zest  to 
the  regular  routine.  The  hot  meal 
has  been  served  at  noon  and  the 
supper  consists  of  cold  tasties 
which  can  be  packed  in  a  bandana 
handkerchief  or  colored  cloth.  The 
corners  are  tied  and  fastened  over 
the  end  of  a  stick  three  feet  long 
which  each  camper  gets  for  himself. 
With  the  campers  dressed  in  "ho- 
bo" regalia  and  carrying  their  food 
pack  over  their  shoulders  the  out- 
ing begins.  After  much  adventure 
on  the  trail  they  arrive  at  an  open 
space  which  previously  has  been 
selected,  a  fire  is  made  and  food 
eaten  in  real  hobo  style.  The  eve- 
ning ends  with  stories  around  the 
camp-fire. 

V\7"ITH  this  threefold  endeavor 
of  programing,    each    day's 
activities  should  be  chuck  full  of 
fun  and  adventure. 

If  you  happen  in  for  a  rainy 
camping  period  don't  be  discour- 
aged. Be  flexible  and  change  the 
program  to  meet  the  weather  con- 
ditions. If  the  weather  is  warm 
and  a  strenuous  physical  program 
has  been  planned  change  to  more 
restful  pastimes,  such  as  crafts, 
reading,  story-telling  and  writing 
the  camp  log.  All  weather  is  good 
camping  weather. 


Continued  from 

page  535 

In  closing,  may  I  urge  upon  all 
leaders  to  plan  their  camp  pro- 
grams in  advance,  to  meet  as  far  as 
possible  every  opportunity  as  it 
presents  itself.  Arrange  these  plans 
in  a  note  book  under  songs, 
stunts,  campfire  programs,  greet- 
ings, rainy  day  activities,  and  the 
like.  Whenever  a  new  item  is  dis- 
covered, add  it  to  whatever  divi- 
sion it  belongs,  and  then  as  time 
goes  on  you  will  be  the  kind  of  a 
leader  who  can  help  campers  get 
the  most  out  of  their  camping  ex- 
perience. 

"The  Passion  Play" — Movie 

[EXCERPTS  from  a  letter  written 
*-*  by  Dr.  Richard  R.  Lyman,  a 
member  of  the  quorum  of  the  Twelve, 
to  the  booking  agent  of  the  moving 
picture,  "The  Passion  Play,"  is  self- 
explanatory: 

"It  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  say  that 
I  saw  this  picture  as  it  was  presented 
in  Salt  Lake  City  and  I  enjoyed  it 
tremendously.  *  *  * 

"I  not  only  recommend  the  play, 
but  urge  all  who  have  an  opportunity 
to  do  so  to  see  it. 

"It  is  always  a  pleasure  to  have  an 
opportunity  of  recommending  any- 
thing so  worthy  and  deserving  as  this 
excellent    picture. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Richard  R.  Lyman." 


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The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


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It  all  dated  back  to  that  school 
dance  when  they  were  Sopho- 
mores. Carmen  remembered  the 
sensation  Phil  had  created  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Sophomore  year 
when  he  came  in,  a  stranger  from 
a  larger  school.  His  football  had 
brought  him  into  the  limelight 
during  the  first  two  weeks  of 
school  and  before  a  month  was 
over  his  popularity  in  all  fields  was 
assured. 

She  had  been  nice  to  him,  as 
everyone  else  was,  and  he  had 
seemed  to  like  her  until  that  eve- 
ning when  she  innocently  refused 
a  dance  with  him  because  she  had 
it  with  Stan  Gray.  And  then 
Stan  hadn't  put  in  appearance  and 
she  had  to  cover  up  the  slight  by 
going  to  the  dressing  room  with 
one  of  the  girls.  But  she  hadn't 
been  able  to  get  away  before  Phil 
saw  her  and  he  had  been  as  mean 
as  dirt  to  her  ever  since.  Told 
Miriam  that  he  wasn't  used  to 
having  girls  snub  him  and  no  one 
here  could  get  away  with  it. 

NOT  that  she  cared 
for  his  friendship,  she  told  herself. 
She  never  lacked  for  beaux,  but  it 
was  disconcerting  to  have  one  of 
the  most  popular  fellows  in  school 
ignore  you  for  two  and  a  half 
years.  And  then  Miss  Williams 
had  given  them  the  leads  in  the 
Senior  play.  Carmen  had  thought 
that  maybe,  having  to  play  the 
part  of  her  lover,  he  would  sort 
of  snap  out  of  it  off  the  stage.  But 
he  still  acted  as  if  she  didn't  exist. 

"Here  is  your  cue,  Carm,"  Dick 
knocked  hastily  on  the  dressing 
room  door.  "Up  and  at  'em, 
Dido."  He  patted  her  shoulder 
comfortingly  as  she  hurried  out. 
"You're  great.  You  will  knock 
'em  cold  tomorrow  night." 

Dick  was  always  a  comfort. 
She  could  play  a  wonderful  lead 
opposite  him. 

She  drew  herself  up  to  her  full 
height,  and  swept  regally  on  to 
the  stage.  She  always  felt,  tho, 
that  some  of  her  dignity  was  lost 
in  getting  seated.  Reclining  on 
these  absurd  couches  was  always 
difficult  and  especially  so  tonight 
with  a  long  satin  train  to  manage. 
Why  didn't  Carthaginians  sit  on 
chairs   like   moderns?      It   simply 


Continued  from 
page  527 


wasn't  possible  to  drop  gracefully 
on  to  a  hard  wooden  couch  which 
sloped  from  its  head  only  a  foot 
from  the  floor  down  to  the  floor 
itself.  The  silken  draperies  might 
make  it  look  sumptuous  to  the 
audience  but  they  didn't  relieve  the 
hardness  of  the  wood  any. 

Phil  looked  as  if  he  positively 
enjoyed  coming  in  to  tell  her  that 
he  and  his  companions  were  leav- 
ing in  spite  of  her  pleas,  and  it 
was  hard  to  make  her  entreaties 
convincing.  She  would  love  the 
part  if  he  didn't  act  so  personal 
about  it. 

JL/ICK'S  praise  on  the 
way  home  partially  restored  her 
confidence  in  herself.  "Gee,  Carm, 
I'm  proud  of  my  girl.  You're 
a  knock-out.  Only  I  get  a  little 
jealous  of  your  handing  out  all 
that  persuasion  to  Phil.  If  I  didn't 
know  you  dislike  him  I  would 
think  you  were  crazy  about  him 
or  you  couldn't  act  the  part  so 
well." 

"Well,  that  sounds  as  if  I  have 
a  little  bit  of  dramatic  ability, 
Dick,"  Carmen  answered  dryly. 
"But  my  personal  feelings  toward 
him  are  the  same  as  ever,  only 
more  so." 

Dick  laughed  appreciatively. 
"Well,  that's  one  bozo  I  don't 
have  to  be  afraid  of  taking  you 
away  from  me.     Say,  I  sure  hate 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


573 


to  take  you  right  home  tonight, 
but  Miss  Williams  made  us  prom- 
ise to  hit  the  hay  early.  How- 
ever, tomorrow  night  the  whole 
cast  is  going  out  on  a  tear  after 
the  show." 

He  lingered  a  moment  on  the 
steps.  "Gosh,  Carm,  I  get  fidgety 
watching  Phil  take  you  in  his 
arms." 

"Why,  Dick."  She  burst  into 
laughter.  "You  funny  child! 
That  is  purely  mechanical  with 
him.  He  would  as  soon  put  his 
arms   around    a    wooden   post    as 

it 

me. 

"All  the  same,  I  don't  like  it. 
Well,  good-night,  Sweet.  See  you 
tomorrow." 

Edith  came  in  to  tell  her  good- 
night.    "How  did  it  go,  Honey?" 

"Absolutely  punk,  Eda.  That 
vile  Phil  Messer  riles  me  so  I  can't 
do  myself  justice." 

iHE  older  sister  re- 
garded her  anxiously.  "Oh,  you 
mustn't  fall  down  on  your  part, 
Carmen.  Have  you  ever  tried 
being  nice  to  him?  Maybe  it  is 
partly  your  fault." 

Carmen  lay  awake  a  long  time 
that  night.  She  had  done  poorly 
for  the  first  time.  It  was  all  very 
well  for  Dick  to  say  she  was  a 
knock-out.  Dick  didn't  have  much 
dramatic  sense  anyway.  But  she 
knew,  without  anyone's  telling 
her,  that  she  had  never  done  a  role 
so  poorly.  And  it  was  all  because 
of  that  wretched  Phil  Messer.  She 
had  used  his  own  tactics  until  now 
but  someway  she  had  lost  her 
courage  entirely  tonight.  He  had 
been  so  attentive  to  Marcia  to- 
night, too.  It  was  tough  to  have 
a  fellow  of  his  calibre  ignore  you. 
She  wasn't  used  to  having  fellows 
snub  her,   either. 

And  he  was  so  good-looking! 
She  pictured  his  tall  muscular 
frame.  She  would  look  well  with 
Phil.  It  was  always  more  or  less 
a  source  of  concern  because  she 
towered — oh,  just  the  slightest  bit 
— above  Dick.  Dick  was  sort  of 
fat,  too.  Oh,  not  fat  exactly,  but 
he — well,  he  didn't  look  quite  as 
well  as  Phil.  Phil's  gray  eyes 
were  twinkling  and  tender  too 
when  they  looked  at  other  girls. 
Wonder  how  it  would  seem  to 
have  him  look  at  her  that  way. 
Why,  she  would  fall  for  him,  of 
course.  Fall  hard,  probably.  But 
then  there  wasn't  a  chance  of  it. 
Or  was  there?     Suppose  she  de- 


liberately tried  to  win  him  over. 
Could  she  ido  ijt?  Could  (she? 
What  had  Eda  said?  Maybe  it 
was  partly  her  own  fault?  It  was 
worth  a  try,  anyway.  It  might 
save  her  tomorrow  night.  And 
then — oh,  it  might  make  things 
more  pleasant  for  all  time. 

uHE  dressed  carefully 
for  school  the  next  morning.  Her 
new  rose  crepe  became  her  mar- 
velously.  A  glow  of  excitement 
flushed  her  cheeks.  She  coaxed 
her     black     hair    into     becoming 


waves.  Her  mind  was  busy  with 
tactics  of  approach  to  the  hitherto 
forbidden  young  man,  but  she  dis- 
carded them  as  fast  as  she  thought 
of  them.  She  would  have  to  de- 
pend on  ingenuity  when  the  op- 
portunity presented  itself. 

It  came  sooner  than  she  expect- 
ed. Hurriedly  turning  the  corner 
at  Ninth  Street,  she  almost  collided 
with  him.  It  was  difficult  to  re- 
adjust herself  after  the  shock  of 
meeting  as  she  met  his  cool  nod 
and  uplifted  hat.  But  this  was 
the  time. 

"Hello,  Phil,"  she  said  sweetly. 


ANNOUNCEMENT 

for  High  School  and  College 

STUDENTS 

Classes  in  business  subjects  for  high  school  and  college  students 
will  be  conducted  at  the  L.  D.  S.  Business  College  this  summer.' 
Courses  include  Finishing  Course  for  commercial  students,  Intensive 
Business  Course  for  high  school  and  college  graduates  without  previ- 
ous commercial  training,  beginning  of  regular  Complete  Courses  lead- 
ing to  employment  and  Special  Courses  preparing  for  handling  col- 
lege assignments  to  get  best  results.  Summer  classes  attract  a  fine  type 
of  ambitious  young  people  with  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  associate. 
Classes  held  from  8  a.  m.  to  1  p.  m.  Organized  plans  for  gymnasium 
activities. 


c 


SUBJECTS      Typing,  Shorthand,  Business,  English 
OFFERED         Office     Practice,     Bookkeeping,     Ac- 
counting, etc. 

Enroll  for  Summer  Classes  on  Any  Monday 

L.  D.  S.  BUSINESS  COLLEGE 

SALT  LAKE   CITY 


3 


0; 


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»M^m»H— ii— Hi  IH—M— IH— H— Nf 


Salt  Lake  City's  Newest  Popular  Hotel 

HOTEL 
TEMPLE    SQUARE 


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each 
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Rates 

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Radio  Con- 
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for  Every 
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OPPOSITE  GREAT  MORMON  TEMPLE 
ERNEST  C.  ROSSITER,  Manager 

J,— HImiiiII  11^—  II— »»  ■  in -II  II      ■■»■  i        H  ill-      mii.mlIIh  ii    ii|  H— |f^-ll—      II  ■       iti-     "II  II      ■  ■-!!■— ■!!■■■     II  II      ■■■«  IH. 


574 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


im^m 


Whether  it's  a  big  job  or  a  little 
one,  you'll  get  the  best  service 
and  the  best  work  in  our  big, 
modern  commercial  printing 
plant.  Ask  our  representative 
to  quote  on   your  next  job. 


Business  and  Personal  Stationery 

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Booklets  .  .  .  all  kinds  of  binding 

Wedding  Stationery 


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School  of  Beauty 

Culture 

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Phil's  feet  were  carrying  him 
on  rapidly. 

"Oh,  Phil."  Nothing  encour- 
aging about  him  as  he  turned  and 
waited  without  speaking. 

"I  forgot.  I  have  to  go  this 
way,  too."  She  smiled  at  him 
guilelessly.  "Have  to  get  a  note 
book  for  English." 

"Oh."  Phil's  tone  was  chilly, 
to  say  the  least.  Stiffly  he  swung 
into  step  with  her. 

Carmen  slipped  her  arm  chum- 
mily  through  his  and  beamed  up 
into  his  face. 

"You  know,  Phil,  I  was  punk 
last  night  and  I  wondered  if  you 
couldn't  suggest  how  I  could  keep 
from  being  a  complete  flop  to- 
night." 

She  ignored  his  look  of  incred- 
ulous amazement  and  chattered 
on.  "You  play  your  role  so  mar- 
velously.  I'll  just  be  sick  if  I  spoil 
your  effect." 

"Why,  Carmen,"  he  stammered. 
"You've  been  perfect  yourself  up 
until  last  night.  I  did  think  you 
weren't  up  to  standard  then." 

"You  know  I  was  terrible," 
she  objected  with  a  you-know-so- 
much-more-than-I  look  in  her  soft 
brown  eyes.  "I  know  you  can 
give  me  some  pointers  —  if  you 
will." 

"Well,  listen,"  he  was  speaking 
eagerly  now.  "I've  thought  all 
along  that  your  suicide  scene  was 
a  little  too  casual.  Can't  you  pep 
up  the  dramatics  there?  You  are 
supposed  to  be  awfully  sore  at  me 
and  chagrined  because  I  leave.  Isn't 
chagrin  supposed  to  drive  a  wom- 
an to  desperate  measures?" 

"I've  heard  that  it  is,"  she  re- 
plied with  a  coy  pucker  on  her 
lips. 

"But,  say,  I'm  giving  out  all 
the  advice.  I  can  be  improved  on 
myself.  You  know  the  part  where 
I  first  come  into  your  palace.  How 
would  you — ?" 


1HERE  was  a  nervous 
flutter  behind  the  scenes.  Seniors 
standing  here  and  there  giggling 
nervously  and  waiting  with  shiv- 
ery little  thrills  for  the  scenes  to  be 
shifted  so  the  play  could  be  re- 
sumed; getting  in  the  way  of  calm 
competent  stage  hands;  standing 
at  the  ends  of  the  curtain  to  peer 
excitedly  out  at  the  sea  of  faces 
in  the  pit  below;  running  to  a 
mirror  to  take  a  final  peek  at  the 
paint-daubed  unnatural  faces  that 


were  their  own.  The  play  was 
going  marvelously.  The  curtain 
had  just  gone  down  on  Act  II. 

Miss  Williams  put  her  arms 
about  Carmen  with  a  sound  that 
was  half-a-laugh  and  half-a-sob. 
"Carmen,  with  all  your  past  dra- 
matic successes,  I  never  dreamed 
you  could  act  as  well  as  you  are 
doing  tonight.  You  are  splendid, 
my  dear,  simply  splendid." 

Phil  stopped  beside  her  groan- 
ing and  holding  his  head.  "My 
head  is  splitting,"  he  confessed. 
"That  darned  helmet.  It's  agony 
to  wear  anything  so  tight." 

She  cooed  her  sympathy.  "I'm 
so  sorry,  Phil.  But  stick  it  out 
a  little  while  longer.  You  are  a 
charming  lover  even  if  your  head 
does  ache." 

She  ran  her  fingers  through  his 
hair  and  thrilled  at  the  twinkling 
tender  look  that  flashed  in  his 
gray  eyes. 

"Gee,  Carmen.  You've  got  me 
guessing."  He  gave  her  arm  a 
little  squeeze  and  hurried  away  tcr 
change. 

/\CT  III  brought  the 
play  to  a  very  successful  end.  And 
then  there  was  an  enthusiastic 
crowd  of  relatives  and  friends 
swarming  about  the  stage,  con- 
gratulating and  flattering  the  cast. 
They  had  to  pose  for  flash-light 
pictures.      Cold  cream  had  to  be 


IT  ERE  is  Allen  A.   Taylor,  of  Plain 

City,  returned  missionary,  snap- 
ped  on  the  shore  of  the  Society  Islands 
with  his  pet  turtle.  Elder  Taylor 
brought  home  two  live  sea  turtles,  sev- 
eral pairs  of  shark  jaws,  a  rare  and 
valuable  group  of  pearls  and  some 
native  jewelry  and  a  shark  skin. 


The  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1932 


575 


vigorously  rubbed  in  and  grease 
paint  rubbed  off.  Costumes  had 
to  be  carefully  hung  up  and  ar- 
ranged for  tomorrow's  packing. 

With  it  all  there  was  a  continu- 
ous murmur  of  "Hurry  up,  we 
are  going  to  the  Green  Mill." 

Carmen  didn't  want  to  be  hur- 
ried. She  waved  them  all  out, 
promising  that  she  would  be  with 
them  in  a  minute.  She  knew  that 
Phil  hadn't  yet  come  out  of  the 
dressing  room  opposite. 

Eda  guessed  how  matters  stood 
and  whispered  to  Dick,  "Be  a  good 
sport  and  run  me  home,  Dick,  will 
your 

The  sounds  in  the  theatre  grad- 
ually quieted.  Property  men  turn- 
ed out  the  lights  on  the  stage, 
shrouding  the  erstwhile  glittering 
setting  in  darkness.  An  eerie  feel- 
ing this — standing  motionless  in 
such  a  definite  silence  only  a  few 
moments  after  so  much  noise  and 
confusion. 

The  door  opposite  opened.  She 
chose  that  moment  to  leave,  her- 
self.    Phil  was  at  her  side. 

"Not  gone  yet?  I  thought  I 
was  the  last.  I've  been  checking 
costumes  for  Mr.  Mills." 

"I  wanted  to  relax  a  minute 
and  soak  in  the  success,"  she 
smiled. 

"We  made  it,  didn't  we?"  He 
took  her  arm  possessively. 

"Heavens,"  she  said  a  little 
shakily.  "We  have  to  cross  that 
ghastly  dark  stage  to  the  outside 
door.  Good  thing  you  stayed.  I 
would  be  scared  stiff." 

He  patted  her  arm  reassuringly. 
Then  dropped  it  momentarily  to 
search  in  his  pocket  for  a  match. 

There  was  a  thud,  a  scream,  a 
moan,  "Phil." 

He  found  her  by  the  light  of 
his  match,  picked  her  up  and  whis- 
pered anxiously,  "Are  you  hurt, 
dear?     Are  you  all  right?" 

She  relaxed  in  his  arms  and 
answered  shakily.  "I'm  all  right 
now,  but  that  was  a  bad  bump." 

"You  fell  over  one  of  those  darn 
couches.  Carmen,"  he  held  her 
tightly,  "I  always  thought  you 
hated  me.     Do  you?" 

"And  I  always  thought  you 
hated  me.     No,  I  don't.  Do  you?" 

"Do  I?  I've  always  been  crazy 
about  you.  But  I  was  too  stub- 
born to  admit  it.  Look  here,  let's 
not  go  with  the  crowd.  I  want 
to  make  up  for  the  two  and  a  half 
/ears  I've  lost." 


INDEX  TO  ADVERTISERS 

These   advertisers   are   high-class   find   depend- 
able, worthy  of  your  confidence  and  patronage. 

Company  Page 

Beneficial  Life  Insurance  Company Back  Cover 

Brigham  Young  'University   5  7 1 

Continental  Oil  Company  572 

Deseret  News  Press  - 5  74 

Ex-cel-cis  School  of  Beauty  Culture 572 

First  Security  Corporation : Inside  Front  Cover 

Ghirardelli's  Ground  Chocolate  575 

Grant,  Heber  J.,  &  Company  575 

Hotel  Temple  Square 573 

L.  D.  S.  Business  College 573 

Quish  School  of  Beauty  Culture 572 

Utah  High  School  of  Beauty  Culture 5  74 

Salt  Lake  Advertising  Club  Inside  Back  Cover 


INSURE 


Your  registered  stock  and  dairy  herds  against  death  from  any  cause. 


INSURE 


Your  animals  while  in  transit  to  market. 
Let  us  quote  you  rates. 

HEBER  J.  GRANT  &  COMPANY 

20  Main  Street  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


an 


avorl 


This  Chocolate  is 
Balanced  (or  Health  an 

♦  Ghirardelli's  Ground  Chocolate  is  richer 
than  cocoa  . . .  but  not  as  rich  as"bar" choc- 
olate. That's  why  teachers  and  mothers  of 
the  West  prefer  it  for  children  and  for  their 
own  tables.  It's  balanced  tot  nutrition  values 
. . .  and  for  the  full,  fine  flavor  that  nothing 
but  chocolate  can  supply. 

FREE Write  for 

"Sweet  Sixteen" 
Recipe  Packet  No.  2, 
D.  GhirardelliCo., 
914  North  Point  St., 
San  Francisco,  Calif. 


GHIRARJ)  li  ttl'S 

CHOCOLATE 


m 


Say  "Gear-ar-delly' 


3*8 


"Reading  maketh  a  full  man;  conference  a  ready  man;  and  writing  an  exact  man.  And 
therefore,  if  a  man  write  little,  he  had  need  have  a  great  memory;  if  he  confer  little,  he  had 
need  have  a  great  wit;  and  if  he  read  little,  he  had  need  have  much  cunning,  to  seem  to  know 
that  he  doth  not." — Francis  Bacon.      (1561-1626) 


WHY  NOT  SHOOT? 

WE  are  greatly  in  favor  of  shooting — but  with  a  camera. 
Summer  is  the  best  time  for  out-of-doors  shooting, 
so — why  not  shoot  while  the  summer  is  here?  In  order  to 
encourage  shooting,  the  Improvement  Era  is  going  to  offer 
some  prizes  for  the  best  snap  shots  or  photographs  made 
between  July  1  and  September  10,  so  limber  up  the  "gats" 
and  begin  with  July.  Photographs  may  be  of  any  size  and 
make.  Details  will  be  given  in  the  August  Era,  but  we 
wanted  to  give  you  all  this  hint  now.  Snaps  of  pets  and 
people  and  of  scenery  and  wild  animals  will  be  eligible. 

i      i      i 
OUR  POETRY 


stone  Park.  Joseph  B.  Harris  lives  in  Blanding,  Utah,  where 
he  has  been  in  close  contact  with  Navajo  Indians  all  his  life. 
He  belongs  to  the  San  Juan  Stake  presidency.  Karl  E.  Young 
teaches  English  and  French  at  Brigham  Young  University. 
He  loves  Indians  and  Indian  lore,  and  is  at  home  in  war 
paint  and  war  dances.  Maxa  Million  is  a  fictitious  name  of 
a  Utah  lady  who  contributes  frequently  to  these  columns. 
Beatrice  Ekman  lives  high  on  the  hill  east  of  Salt  Lake  where 
daily  she  knows  "The  Lure  of  a  Sea  and  a  City."  President 
B.  S.  Hinckley  needs  no  further  introduction  to  Improvement 
Era  readers. 


IDAHO  SCHOOL  TEACHER  WRITES 


JUST  finished  reading  the  Improvement  Era.     I  like  it  more 
and   more    all   the   time   and   what   favorable   comments 
i  ve  heard  about  the  covers  each  month  1 

"I'm  especially  interested  in  the  'let's  talk  it  over'  corner." 


A  FRIEND  up  Idaho  way  has  written  this:  "I  have  a 
little  difficulty  in  recognizing  as  poetry  all  you  have 
listed  under  that  head."  Somebody  is  always  saying  things 
about  our  poetry.  We  are  glad;  that  indicates  that  they 
read  it.  We  wish  we  could  sit  down  with  folks  and  ,talk 
poetry  a  bit  with  them.     We  think  we  print  the  best  we  get.  i       1       i 

We  may  be  mistaken  in  that;   yet,   we  think  much  of  our  ritpartc  m?  ArrniunT TcniuriuTc 

poetry  is  very  worthy.     "Poetry  is  the  expression  in  words  KH-FUKlh  O*  ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

of  the  meaning  of  life."     Take  our  page  for  June,  for  in-  A  S  a  general  rule,  a  page  of  statistics  is  not  particularly  in- 
stance.     There   we  have,  Mrs.   Fo^  almost  eighty   years  of  /\  ter£sti       tQ  look  and  sometimes      stud     of  •    K. 
age  looking  back  upon  eighteen      Does  she  know  the  mean-  vcals  ^  fo  thg  uninitiated<     In  this  issue  of  th/£rfl  there 
mg  of  life?     Next  is  Virginia  Eggertson,  scarcely  more  than  ^  such  %            whicfa     ^  sq  much  about  ^ 
eighteen    ambitious,   alive,  alert    wondering  if  she  will  have                            {       f  ^    Church 
found  the  meaning  of  life  at  eighty— should  she  seek  a  career  ^  ^^  of  £ffl  readers        . 
or     kisses  on  the  mouth?        Next  comes  Miss  Cannon       In            R              from    about    se             stakes 

the  April  of  life    herself,   riding  along  with  a  friend   in  an  show  ^^  £  accomplishments  were  given 

auto  on  an  April  Day    she  catches  the  breathless  ecs  acy  of  k      j     Dra  fc  £  2g5Q      .  ^ 

youth.      Mr    Dobson  travels  m  books;    O  live  W .Burt    of  nki        fa  dz^gPl400.  awards  werc  made  to83341  for  \ 

pioneer  stock    rebels  at  high  grades  and  scars  made  by  new  standard  achievement;    844   for  Public  Speaking  and 

roads   where   friendly   wagon   tracks   once   beckoned :    Walter  about  ^    same  f      ^    Retold  P  8 

Got  aAnd    he"  &"£&  N^     nVwaSL^ati^  .    A  »*»  estimate  would  lead  S  the  .conclusion  that  for 

.         .  ,  V.         J  •    t_.  „       ..rv  j •-  wt   ^  „<-  every  award  made,  there  were  five  or  six  in  a  ward  who  were 

a  native  with  his  soul  in  his  eyes,  sent  us    Diadem.     We  must  .  ' ,       ,  , ' ,         <  .  ,    .  ,  ,  ,     ,  .  ™ai"  """     ~K 

\       !  ■ \  Zv  *ri7.I*  «--  «X„™  «ff  tv,»  «rr„i,r  ™  rrD      TW  not  thus  honored,  by  which  it  would  be  fair  to  assume  that 

on    FtS  Mo'„^e°„°  •  To' pagf  4%T&£Tu*2  j? .  *£  I"**"  *--»  «"»  »«.  «™«T  thousand  p„- 

That  i.  ft.  ToS£*«&&Ftn.  of  Jo...  ta«  U  do.  JggSiVgjJ-*    h^„rtCanT i  S 

have  a  good  idea,  doesn  t  it?  c »i j  __  „.-...  ■.    ___i      /.1     .•  ,•  t,  <  ,.     „ 

-  iuui   uiuuuuu  ui   muit  in  eatjn  or  me  lines  or  r udhc  opeaK- 

y       y       y  ing  and  Retold  Story.     The  reports  cover  about  2/3  of  the 

Church,  so  to  make  it  complete,  add  a  third  to  the  numbers. 

THAT  JUNE  COVER  Those  who  were  privileged  to  hear  and  see  the  results  of  this 

M„    „       ~      «        ,  _                ,Tr        .           .             ,  ,     ,  delightful  period  of  activity  demonstrated  at  June  Conference, 
R.  Kent  Crosby,  of  Evanston,  Wyoming,  arises  to  defend  win  appreciate  the  fact  that  thc  young  Latter-day  Saints  are 
his  state  scenery.  "I  want  to  register  a  great  big  kickl!  engaged  in  a  program  which  should  put  into  their  lives  un- 
says Mr.  Crosby,  using  two  exclamation  points  just  like  that.  paralleled  bits  of  the  joy  which  comes  of  doing  things. 
"I  glanced  at  the  cover  on  the  Era  for  June  and  recognized 

a  familiar  scene;   then  I  looked  inside  and  found  it  labelled  y       y       y 

a  "Mountain  Scene  in  Idaho"  or  some  such  thing.     It  is  not 

in  Idaho.     That  scene  is  photographed  from  the  "bay"  on  WHAT  DO  YOU  LIKE? 

Jenny's  Lake  in  Jackson  Hole,  Wyoming,  about  75  or  100  _  ,; 

feet  from  the  footbridge,  etc.,  etc."      We  don't  blame  Mr.  V\/E  RE  always  eager  to  find  out  what  people  like  and  what 

Crosby   for   protesting.      The   idea   of   mistaking   the   Grand  *  *       they  do  not  like.  Of  course  we  cannot  please  everybody 

Tetons  for  any  other  mountains  in  the  world!  We  apologize,  with  every  thing  in  the  Improvement  Era.     The  fact  that 

humbly,  with  thanks  for  the  correction.  in    the  Church   among  its  readers  there  are  people   ranking 

from  fifth  grade  boys  and  girls  to  doctors  of  medicine,  doc- 

-f       /       y  tors  of  philosophy,  university  presidents,  and  world  renowned 

crvui?  rw  tot?  wuttttoc  av  titt«  T«<3inr  scientists  would  indicate  that  the  best  we  can  hope  to  do  is 

SOME  OF  THE  WRITERS  OF  THIS  ISSUE  tQ  gc(  something  in  thc  magazine  which  will  havc  a  special 

DR.  Harold  W.  Bentley,  of  New  York,  grew  up  in  Mexico,  appeal  to  each  one  and  something  which  will  have  a  general 

took  his  Bachelor's  degree  from  Brigham  Young  Univer-  aPP,eal  to  **  majority.      We're  trying  to  strike  the  happy 

sity  and  his  Ph.  D.  degree  from  Columbia  University.  He  has  medium.     We  ll  appreciate  your  kindness  if  you  ll  read  this 

lived  several  years  on  Harlem  Heights,  Washington's  famous  ™ber  c"e[ulIf  and   then  votc  for  the  stones'   Poems  and 

battleground.      Elva  Moss  Wessel,  was  formerly  a  Salt  Lake  artldcs  whlch  Pleas^  you  most. 

girl,   but  she  is  now  living  in  New  York  City  where  her  I  vote  for as  my  first  choice; 

husband  is  connected  with  National  Headquarters,  Boy  Scouts  as  my  second; 

of  America.      Edna  I.  Asmus  is  a  free-lance  writer  living  in  as  mv  t}1jrdi 

Chicago.      She  came  West  last  summer  and  was  much   im-  •-     .  V  ....  , 

pressed  by  Utah  and  Arizona  scenery.      She  will  appear  in  a  Amon2  the  Poems  l  llke best; 

future  issue.     E.  W.  Taylor  is  a  young  Salt  Laker  who  has second  best. 

spent  some  time  in  the  open  spaces  especially  around  Yellow-  Signed 


ADVERTISING 

--•the   Modern 

Paul  Revere 


j  T'S  a  far  cry  to  the  heralding 
•*■  methods  of  Revolutionary  days 
— but  the  dauntless  spirit  of  getting 
the  news  to  all  the  homes  of  the 
people  is  the  same! 

Time  was  when  a  new  style — 
woman's  gown  or  improved  farm 
implement — spread  from  town  to 
town  by  the  slow  medium  of  ru- 
mor. The  lady  "out  west"  heard  the 
decree  of  fashion  months  after  the 
lady  on  Broadway  had  made  her  de- 
but in  the  latest  creation. 

But  today  how  all  that  is  changed! 
Main  Street  of  the  country's  re- 
motest village  moves  abreast  of  New 
York's  smart  Fifth  Avenue.  Thanks 
to  the  speed  and  efficiency  of  adver- 
tising, all  the  people  .  .  .  everywhere 
.  .  .  get  the  glad  tidings  of  new  de- 


sirable products  at  the  same  time. 
The  result  is  immediate  and  wide 
diffusion  of  knowledge  about  the 
things  that  make  life  modern,  hap- 
py and  full. 

And  what  is  more,  advertising  has 
set  up  standards  of  truthfulness 
that  establish  confidence  and  secure 
quick  acceptance  of  worthy  services 
and  products.  Manufacturers, 
merchants  and  buyers,  all  reap  the 
rewards  of  our  flexible  system  of  dis- 
tributing and  selling. 

Yes,  advertising  spreads  the  news, 
quickens  desire,  guides  in  the 
choice,  and  influences — to  the  buy- 
er's advantage — the  price  that  is 
paid.  Let  advertising  be  the  guide 
to  all  your  purchases. 


SALT  LAKE 


ZLSld 


vertising  CLUB 


Advertising    Builds     Business     and     Protects     the     Consumer 


WHICH  DO  YOU  PREFER? 


The  Save  and  Invest  Plan 

All  other  methods  of  creating  an  estate,  except  Life 
Insurance,  requires  time. 

YOU  SAVE  BIT  BY  BIT  AND  SUCCEED  ONLY— 


II 


YOU  LIVE  LONG  ENOUGH 


YOU  SAVE  CONSISTENTLY 


YOU  INVEST  SAFELY 


V 


The  Beneficial  Life  Insurance  Plan 

Creates  an  estate  immediately,  and  maintains  rr  with 
annual,  semi-annual,  or  quarterly  premium  payments  of 
only  I  to  3  per  cent  of  the  principal  amount.  THE 
SAFEST,  EASIEST,  SUREST  METHOD.  THE  PRINCI- 
PAL AMOUNT  IS  THERE  AT  THE  START.  DIVIDENDS 
ARE  PAID  EACH  YEAR,  AS  ALL  BENEFICIAL 
POLICYHOLDERS  SHARE  IN  THE  NET  EARNINGS 
OF  THE  COMPANY. 


SAVINGS — probably    .    eventually 


50,00'OM 


S^jp50,opq  jf 


■INSURANCE— 
positively  .  .  .  immediately 


•  _ 

Life  Insurance  is  the  One  Savings  Plan  That  Has  Maintained  a  Value  of  100  Per  Cent  and  is  Withdrawable  "Right  Now" 


-cowio. 


IBEN, 

V© 


^>UJf« 


BENEFICIAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  CO 


DIRECTORS  HOME   OFFICE:    SALT    LAKE   CITY,    UTAH  DIRECTORS 

HEBER  J.  GRANT,  PRESIDENT  GEO.  J.  CANNON.   2nd  Vice   PRESIDENT 

A.    W.    1V1NS.    1ST  VICE   PRESIDENT  E-    T-    RALPHS  A      B>    C,    OHLSON,    SECRETARY 

JOS.    F.    SMITH  GENERAL  MANAGER  B.    F.   GRANT 

DAVID  O.   MCKAY 


— — —  :•   " PM